California voters will decide on March 5 whether to borrow up to $6.4 billion in bonds to help house the state’s homeless and build addiction recovery and mental health facilities.
If Prop. 1 passes, the deposit would go toward housing and employment assistance, as well as paving the way for addiction treatment for some homeless people.
The proposal also could reduce the amount of funding that currently funds county mental health services, according to the state.
Proponents of Proposition 1 point to California’s homeless population of 172,000 people and the need to help people with addiction issues who end up on the streets.
According to the California Secretary of State’s Office of Election Information, Prop. 1 would need 50% of the votes cast plus one vote to pass.
How much does prop 1 cost?
If Prop. 1 passes, states would be able to borrow up to $6.4 billion to build more mental health, drug and alcohol treatment facilities for people struggling with homelessness and addiction.
The proposal would also shift about $140 million in annual tax revenue to state control and send to counties to fund current mental health, drug and alcohol treatment programs.
California’s bond service costs will increase by $310 million a year over the next 30 years, the state said.
How many people can be helped with proposal 1?
The state estimates that up to 4,350 homes could be built with bond funds, 2,350 of which would be reserved for veterans. The new mental health and addiction recovery facility could house up to 6,800 people at a time, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office.
Supporters say bond-funded housing could help 20% of homeless veterans get off the streets.
Proposition 1 would increase funding for homeless housing, but current mental health funding could be cut.
If approved, Proposition 1 would replace the existing mental health services funding source, the Mental Health Services Act of 2004.
The Mental Health Services Act, passed by voters in 2004, includes resources needed to support people and their families “at risk for serious mental health problems,” according to the California Department of Health Services. , paying for prevention and early intervention services.
According to the state, Prop. 1 would make MHSA funds for drug and alcohol addiction treatment available to people without mental illness, and if approved, California counties currently have Some funding for health programs may also be cut.
How states distribute Prop 1 funds
A 1% tax on Californians who earn more than $1 million a year funds the Mental Health Services Act.
Each month, the county receives 95% of that money to pay for mental health services. The remaining 5% would go to the state for mental health programs, according to an analysis of Proposition 1 from the state.
Proposition 1 would double the share of the “billionaire tax” allocated to states to 10%. The amount the county would receive would drop to 90%.
There are no changes to MHSA taxes. But the proposal would shift MHSA funding from the counties to the state by about $140 million a year. This amount increases or decreases depending on the total amount of MHSA money collected each year.
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How will states use future millionaire tax allocations?
If the proposal passes, each county would have to spend a portion of future MHSA funds on housing, employment assistance, and education. Counties would continue to provide current mental health services under this proposal, but there may be less MHSA funding available.
Currently, counties are not required to use MHSA funds to pay for mental health services.
“How much counties spend on various services will be determined by future decisions by counties and the state,” the Legislative Analysis Service reported.
How will the state spend $6.4 billion in bonds?
Counties and Native American tribes can apply for grants and loans from the $6.4 billion bond fund to help build housing projects and mental health and addiction recovery centers.
County governments would be required to cover at least a portion of the operating costs of grant projects, according to the Legislative Analysis Service.
The state says at least 30 percent of the bond money will go solely toward building housing and employment service centers.
How much funding do North State counties currently receive to provide mental health services?
MHSA funds some law enforcement crisis intervention teams, such as the program in place in Redding.
The Hill Country Care Center and Suicide Prevention Program is also among dozens of other programs in Shasta County receiving funding for mental health services., Miguel Rodriguez, behavioral health and social services branch director for the county’s Health and Human Services Agency.
According to the California Office of the Inspector General, the following are the amounts of Mental Health Services Act funds received by counties in the North from August 15, 2023 to January 12, 2024:
- Shasta County: $11.4 million
- Butte County: $10.48 million
- Humboldt County: $9.24 million
- Tehama County: $3.47 million
- Siskiyou County: $334 million
- Glenn County: $2.7 million
- Del Norte County: $2.38 million
- Lassen County: $2.27 million
- Plumas County: $1.86 million
- Trinity County: $1.63 million
- Modoc County: $1.19 million
What supporters and opponents say about Proposition 1
Supporters of Proposition 1 say California’s growing problems of homelessness, addiction and mental illness are partially caused by the state cutting funding to mental health hospitals in the late 1900s. . Proposition 1 would give underfunded programs the funding they need to get people off the streets, according to a statement released by supporters.
Opponents say Proposition 1 allows the state to collect a larger share of the “millionaire tax” and requires counties to spend more of their allocation on housing. criticized. The latter would negatively impact “already underfunded” mental health programs, according to the state’s voter guide.
Last-minute amendments to the proposal could allow funding for “involuntary treatment in locked facilities,” according to the League of Women Voters of California, which opposes Proposition 1.
Opponents also point to long-term costs. The voter guide says taxpayers will pay an estimated $10.58 billion to $12.45 billion, which will take “decades” to pay back.
Read the state’s explanation of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Proposition 1 at voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/1.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, art, social issues, and news articles. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic And even more Facebook.join jessica Get out!Norcal Recreation Facebook Group. To support and sustain this effort, Subscribe today. thank you.
