IMPORTANT: MAKE SURE YOUR ZIP CODE & CITY/TOWN ARE CORRECT BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR SIGNATURE!

The shortage of mental health services in Kankakee County has been a long-standing problem. Just about anyone trying to access services can tell you what a nightmare it is. More than 1000 Kankakee County residents participated in recent countywide assessments completed by the Partnership for a Healthy Community and Kankakee County. Both assessments identified the need for increased mental health services as a high priority.

One of the main barriers to increasing services is the lack of funding for costs that are not met by private and public insurance, grants, and personal resources. Passage of a referendum to adopt a ¼ cent sales tax would provide local funds to address local situations. This would provide long-term solutions to critical service shortages throughout the county. Some of the ways these funds would be used, include:

• Expanding access to psychiatrists and other mental health professionals,
• Increasing support services for children, adolescents, parents and other caregivers, veterans, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and senior adults,
• Assisting schools to meet the post-pandemic mental health needs of students and staff, 
• Providing law enforcement agencies with mental health resources to respond to crises, and
• Ensuring funds are available when state and federal payments are delayed, or funding is cut.

Reliable resources mean stable foundations to create sustainable jobs and programs in the mental health field. A sales tax shares the costs with everyone – even those who do not live in our county but work and travel here.

A ¼ cent sales tax would mean paying one cent more on a $4 sandwich or beverage, or 25 cents more on a $100 non-exempt purchase. Groceries, prescription drugs, and motorized vehicles are examples of purchases which would be exempt from this tax. 

No politician hoping to be re-elected would propose an additional tax in this economy. It would be a career no-no. We understand, but this problem is not going away. It is only getting more urgent.

That is why the voters of Kankakee County must overwhelmingly decide to adopt a ¼ cent sales tax to create local, long-term solutions to chronic gaps in our mental health system of care. Sign the petition to add the referendum to the April 4, 2023, ballot. Show our politicians we want local control of our mental health!

IMPORTANT: MAKE SURE YOUR ZIP CODE & CITY/TOWN ARE CORRECT BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR SIGNATURE!