State Rep. Daniel Didek
State Rep. Daniel Didek said he is open to considering additional legislation to endorse a referendum passed by Wheeling Township voters in 2022 to fund mental health services.
But he also questions town leaders’ continued refusal to levy a voter-approved tax to fund programs addressing mental health, substance abuse and developmental disabilities.
“Five townships and one county that approved referendums in the same way at the same time have all been successful in imposing taxes,” the Buffalo Grove Democrat said, “so this is most likely a bad faith diversion from them.”
In November 2022, township voters passed a referendum to create a Community Mental Health Commission (also known as the 708 Commission) and a tax to fund it. The commission’s mission is to distribute the tax money to agencies that address mental health issues within the township.
But town officials have steadfastly refused to impose the tax, initially arguing that a mistake in the wording of the 2022 referendum rendered the vote invalid and therefore the levy could not be imposed.
Didek was instrumental in passing a state bill to correct the error, but county leaders said last week they were told by attorneys that the bill doesn’t apply to citizen-initiated referendums like the one passed in 2022.
If that’s true, Didek said he’s open to working with the town to explore new legislative solutions.
“If they are serious about imposing a tax now, they are welcome to work with lawmakers, including myself,” he said. “I think we’ve been pretty vocal about being willing to work with them to get this done.”
“This is the fourth or fifth excuse we’ve received from Wheeling Township, and we’re not going to continue with these futile excuses,” Didek added.
Meanwhile, mental health advocates are frustrated by the town’s inaction.
Austin Maidrich said the town can provide funding for the 708 committee from its reserves for now.
“Having a 708 committee is not the only way to get funding for mental health, substance use prevention, or anything else,” Mejidrich said, “and they’ve been stonewalling us for two years now.”
