10/21/2009
Mental health and substance abuse programs are supported by sales tax dollars
Vancouver, WA — The Clark County Auditor’s Office has released a report: Mental Health/Substance Abuse Sales Taxes, Collected and Expended. By county ordinance, the Auditor’s Office is reporting on the collection of one tenth of a percent sales tax to be used in support of the county’s mental health and substance abuse programs, as authorized by the Board of Clark County Commissioners on December 6, 2006 by resolution number 2006-12-07.
During 2007 and 2008, $8.6 million was collected in sales taxes for this purpose. Program spending from these sales tax revenues for this same period were slightly over $5.8 million, or 86 percent of the total $6.8 million budget for the programs. These programs allowed activities begun under federal and/or state grants, such as that for residential treatments beds, to be continued after the grants expired. Other programs, such as new drug treatment courts and additional detoxification services, were created. Eleven staff positions for related program activity were funded for $550,913 of the total expenditures.
Utilization, including program outcomes, is reported on separately through a contract with Washington State University.
County Auditor Greg Kimsey stated: “Citizens can be assured that the sales taxes collected for this purpose have been used to appropriately fund these important mental health and substance abuse programs.”
The full report can be viewed at www.clark.wa.gov/auditor/audit/audreports.html or obtained by telephoning (360) 397-2310 ext. 4790.
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