AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY August 16, 2016 City Council

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1 Agenda Item 21 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY August 16, 2016 City Council STAFF Beth Sowder, Director of Social Sustainability Jackie Kozak-Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer SUBJECT Resolution Expressing the City Council s Support for the Passage of a Larimer County Ballot Issue Imposing a Twenty Five One-Hundredths of One Percent Countywide Sales and Use Tax for the Construction, Improvement, Maintenance, and Operations of a Mental Health, Detox and Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and Related Community Services, and Urging the Citizens of Fort Collins to Vote "Yes" on this Ballot Issue. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is for the City Council to express its support of the Larimer County proposal for the imposition of a 0.25% countywide sales and use tax for the construction, improvement, maintenance, and operations of a mental health, detox and substance abuse treatment facility and related community services which was referred by the Larimer County Commissioners to the 2016 general election ballot for the approval of such proposal. STAFF RECOMMENDATION None. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION The lack of critical behavioral health services has a direct impact on major City of Fort Collins concerns. Community residents, their families, and workplaces, are all directly and significantly impacted by the lack of adequate depth and continuum of mental health and substance use disorder treatment. The gaps in services also have a substantial impact on services and issues with a direct relationship to the City, including police services, the criminal justice system, businesses, poverty, homelessness, and support services for those living in permanent supportive housing. The Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Partnership s study considered the additional services needed in the community, how they could be organized, and the cost. Larimer County has been considering the possibility of developing a long-term solution for filling the critical gaps. A citizen s group has formed to advocate for solutions. Bridging the critical gaps in behavioral health treatment services, if achieved, is anticipated to have a notable impact on health, quality of life, and societal and services costs. For these reasons, the Larimer County Commissioners referred this proposal to the 2016 general election ballot. The expected cost for land and construction of a 51,000 square-foot facility is $20.42 million and anticipated annual operating costs of $11.77 million (operating cost of $15.77 million minus revenue). The cost to the public is a sales tax of 25 cents on $100 spent for a new behavioral health facility. Larimer County taxes are expected to increase by $16,500, in 2017, and by whatever additional amounts is raised annually thereafter for 25 years. Because this proposed facility and services will fill gaps in our community, aims to ensure people have access to the help they need through a continuum of care in their community, and that treatment is an investment in Item # 21 Page 1

2 Agenda Item 21 the health and well-being of our community, the Fort Collins City Council supports and endorses this ballot issue. CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS Support for this project should have a modest impact on Police call volume activity that should generate productivity and efficiency improvements. Staff does not anticipate any direct cost impact on City operations. ATTACHMENTS 1. July 26, 2016 Work Session Summary (PDF) Item # 21 Page 2

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5 RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS EXPRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL S SUPPORT FOR THE PASSAGE OF A LARIMER COUNTY BALLOT ISSUE IMPOSING A TWENTY FIVE ONE- HUNDREDTHS OF ONE PERCENT COUNTYWIDE SALES AND USE TAX FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT, MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATIONS OF A MENTAL HEALTH, DETOX AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FACILITY AND RELATED COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND URGING THE CITIZENS OF FORT COLLINS TO VOTE YES ON THIS BALLOT ISSUE WHEREAS, mental illness and substance-use disorders are serious health issues for one in four people in Larimer County; and WHEREAS, mental illness and substance-use disorders are treatable health conditions, but too often people in crisis end up at an emergency room, in jail, or are taken to a detox facility in Greeley; and WHEREAS, our community would benefit from a public, community-based mental illness and behavioral health treatment center that could provide a continuum of care for mental health, detox, and substance abuse treatment and services that would be less costly than jails, emergency rooms, or travelling outside the county for services; and WHEREAS, on August 2, 2016, the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution No R007, which placed on the November 8, 2016, general election ballot a ballot issue that, if passed, would increase the County s sales and use taxes by.25%, with the revenue from such tax being used to construct, improve, maintain and operate a treatment and detox facility for mental health, substance abuse, and alcohol abuse, and to operate out-patient and support services in connection with such facility; and WHEREAS, the expected cost for land and construction of a 51,000-square-foot facility is $20.42 million with anticipated annual operating costs of $11.77 million; and WHEREAS, Larimer County taxes would be expected to increase by $16,500,000 in 2017, and by whatever additional amount is raised annually thereafter for 25 years; and WHEREAS, the proposed facility would fill gaps in care in the community by accommodating 4,700 adults annually, and is an investment in the health and well-being of our community. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and findings contained in the recitals set forth above. Section 2. That for the reasons set forth above, the City Council fully supports the -1-

6 passage of the Larimer County ballot issue described herein. Section 3. That the City Council urges every Larimer County registered voter to go to the polls on November 8, 2016, and to vote YES on the ballot issue to increase sales and use taxes by.25% to support the construction and operation of a mental health, substance abuse and alcohol abuse treatment facility in Larimer County. Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 16th day of August, A.D ATTEST: Mayor City Clerk -2-