If mental health initiative Proposition 63 passes Nov. 2, the
San Benito County Mental Health Department could collect up to
$900,000 annually, which would aid programs including those for
children and the homeless, according to local officials.
Hollister – If mental health initiative Proposition 63 passes Nov. 2, the San Benito County Mental Health Department could collect up to $900,000 annually, which would aid programs including those for children and the homeless, according to local officials.
Proposition 63 would impose a 1 percent tax on residents with annual incomes of $1 million on the portion of their income that was over $1 million. That money would go to counties to expand services and develop innovative programs, according to a statement issued by the Attorney General.
For the San Benito County Mental Health Department, it could mean continuing to provide service and bolstering its current programs, said Alan Yamamoto, department director.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I don’t think it will come around again,” Yamamoto said. “(Without it) we could reach a breaking point where hard decisions would need to be made of who we will be able to serve.”
Opponents of the initiative claim it is built on a shaky and unpredictable funding source and that it will drive away taxpayers’ support, according to a nonpartisan analysis.
If the proposition passes, the San Benito County Mental Health plans to allocate funds for prevention and early intervention programs at schools and increase funds for services for children, Yamamoto said. Half of the department’s patients are children afflicted with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression and Attention Deficit Disorder, he said.
Yamamoto said the department serves people with Medi-Cal and private insurance, but services an inordinate amount of people without any insurance.
Some counties, such as Marin and Sonoma, only serve patients who are Medi-Cal beneficiaries or in an emergency psychiatric situation because of financial constraints, he said.
“I have colleagues who wonder how San Benito continues to be everything to everybody,” Yamamoto said. “Some people think Prop. 63 is just another tax, but if you look at the bigger picture… a small number of individuals blessed with a tremendous amount are giving up a little bit to benefit a large number of people.”
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to support the proposition because mental health programs in the county need to be continued, said Supervisor Pat Loe.
“I believe people really need the benefits, and this is one avenue available to get those benefits to the people,” she said. “From what I’ve read, the tax breaks the wealthy are getting from the federal government take care of the 1 percent this is taking from them.”
Erin Musgrave covers public safety and health issues for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
