Mental health funding campaign to target northern Kane County

During the next year, northern Kane County residents will see a promotional campaign to sell them on a potential new tax to fund mental health, addiction and developmental disabilities services.

All the current providers and governmental bodies that already have a local form of the tax seem to agree more parity is needed in funding such services. Those taxing bodies, known as 708 boards, exist in the southern and central parts of the county.

That's created a sense that those county residents end up subsidizing mental health services for northern residents, particularly when provided through the Kane County jail.

A six-year effort to get all those taxing bodies to agree to a countywide consolidation into a single board failed. The groups could not agree consolidation would benefit their residents, particularly if it lessened local control or created double-taxing.

On Wednesday, the Kane County Board's public health committee agreed it would take on the unification effort. That also entails bringing the north end of the county to the table to buy into what must be a voter-approved new tax.

Members of the committee acknowledged that may be a tough sell.

“I can't wait to do this,” board member Deb Allan said. “But there are people who are mostly anti-tax and don't like the idea of something being foisted on them. We need to let people know what good this can do, and over the sentiment of ‘Don't do this to me.'”

There may be an additional obstacle of getting even the Kane County Board members who represent the northern end of the county to buy in.

The public health committee, in its current form, has five Democrats and two Republicans.

All but one Democrat, Allan, are from the south end of the county.

Of the Republicans, only T.R. Smith has a district embedded on the north end. His term expires in November and he is not seeking re-election.

The public health committee is also subject to reorganization. Committee Chairwoman Monica Silva has had several public clashes with county board Chairman Chris Lauzen. Lauzen selects the leadership of the various county board committees and which county board members sit on each committee.

Barb Jeffers, the executive director of the county's public health department, said county board member buy-in is needed for there to be any chance of having more money for mental health, addiction and developmental disabilities services.

“It will take a referendum,” Jeffers said.

“At the end of the day, it's about getting those communities on the north end on board. It's about a community that does not currently have a 708 board and their willingness to have such a tax. How do you sell this to constituents so they understand the impact and the benefits?”