League of Women Voters to hold forum on the mental health board referendum at MCC

On Thursday, Feb. 22, the League of Women Voters of McHenry County will present a forum on the mental health board referendum.

McHenry County voters will have their say on this referendum on the March 19 primary ballot. The event will be held at 7 p.m. in person in the Luecht Auditorium at McHenry County College, 8900 Route 14 in Crystal Lake, and livestreamed on Facebook.

Speakers at the forum will include county board members Carolyn Campbell and Michael Skala, as well as Suzanne Hoban, executive director of Family Health Partnership, and John Buckley, executive director of Independence Health & Therapy.

“Our mental health board is one of the jewels of McHenry County, providing vitally needed funding for an array of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, substance abuse disorders, and mental health issues,” said Paula Ekstrom, league president. “These services often help people, and their families, who are uninsured or underinsured. This forum will provide full details on the pros and cons of this referendum, so that the voters can make an informed choice. That’s our organization’s mission, and we’re proud to help out.”

If the referendum passes, the portion of property tax which funds the Mental Health Board will be replaced by a 0.25% sales tax (with certain exclusions, for example groceries, medicine or medical equipment.)

The Luecht Auditorium is located in Building B. Park on the south side.

For further information on the referendum, see the FAQ on the website of the McHenry County Clerk at tinyurl.com/4jdmpczz.

To watch the forum livestream on Facebook, visit tinyurl.com/mrye59m2.

For more information on the Mental Health Board of McHenry County, visit www.mc708.org.