Bob Yates: Boulder County needs a mental health tax

Bob Yates, an opinion columnist for Boulder Reporting Lab and former member of the Boulder City Council, has passionately advocated for a local solution to address the alarming mental health crisis in Boulder County. His latest commentary focuses on the pressing need for a mental health tax, emphasizing that Colorado ranks among the worst states in the nation for mental health care.

### Current Mental Health Landscape in Colorado

Recent statistics paint a troubling picture of mental health care in Colorado. Forbes ranks the state as the sixth worst in treating adults with mental illness and the third worst for youth mental health insurance. This is concerning, especially when one in five Boulder County residents reports experiencing poor mental health. The stigma surrounding mental illness remains pervasive, leading to the neglect of a significant public health issue. Unlike physical ailments like cancer, mental health continues to be a taboo subject, affecting how society engages with those in need.

### The Proposal for a Local Tax

To confront this challenge, Boulder County commissioners have placed a modest 0.15% sales tax proposal on the upcoming ballot, set to begin January 1 and conclude December 31, 2028. This measure aims to raise approximately $14 million annually for mental health programs, providing a critical financial lifeline for treatment facilities and services lacking state and federal support. While $14 million might seem a minor sum in the face of national healthcare discussions, for Boulder County, it represents a vital step toward addressing the mental health crisis.

### Widening Mental Health Disparities

Yates highlights substantial disparities affecting vulnerable groups within the community. Latinos in Boulder County are three times less likely to receive mental health care than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Similarly, individuals identifying as LGBTQ frequently report higher levels of depression, with alarming statistics noting that nearly three out of four transgender youth experience poor mental health. These inequities underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions that the proposed tax could support.

Tragic outcomes also bear witness to the urgency of action. Colorado’s suicide rates have risen, with Boulder County witnessing a steeper increase than the state average. On average, one person per day is admitted to an emergency room after a suicide attempt, highlighting the life-and-death stakes of addressing mental health care inadequacies.

### Community Responsibility and Hope

In voicing support for the mental health tax, Yates emphasizes the importance of community responsibility. The alternative to self-funding mental health programs includes perpetuating a cycle of untreated mental illnesses manifesting in crime, homelessness, and other societal issues. The shelter system is a microcosm of the larger problem, with around two-thirds of unhoused individuals struggling with mental health disorders.

Yates calls for an active engagement from the community, urging residents to support Ballot Measure 1B. While he acknowledges the limitations inherent in the proposed funding—primarily the necessity of “building the airplane while flying it”—he encourages residents to remain hopeful. Over the next three years, the funding will allow Boulder County to gather vital data and insights, informing future decisions on mental health funding.

### Taxation and Community Investment

Critics of taxation may argue that public funds are often misallocated, and that a temporary tax will not address the root causes of an inadequate healthcare system. However, Yates contends that while taxes might not be enjoyable, they are vital for closing the funding gap in mental health treatment, which has only widened amid federal and state budgetary cuts. The initiative to levy this tax showcases a proactive approach in a time of government inaction.

By endorsing this measure, residents will have the opportunity to directly contribute to the well-being of their neighbors and pave the way for meaningful change in how mental health is treated in Boulder County. Just as the community rallied during crises like floods and fires, the same spirit of collective responsibility can be applied to mental health.

### Future Prospects

If the tax is successfully passed, there remains the potential for future initiatives to address mental health more comprehensively. Yates suggests that ongoing observations during the initial three-year spending period could lead to more robust solutions, including the possibility of establishing residential mental health facilities akin to those in neighboring counties.

The window of opportunity has opened for Boulder County residents to confront a crisis that directly affects their friends, family, and community. By implementing a targeted mental health tax, the county has the potential to set a precedent for community-driven solutions to pressing public health concerns, echoing a sentiment that it is not solely the responsibility of the government to provide care.

### Conclusion

Bob Yates’s call for a mental health tax in Boulder County underscores the urgent need for local solutions to an evolving public health crisis. With mental health care in Colorado consistently rated among the poorest in the nation, the proposed tax stands as a meaningful step toward improving access to crucial support for residents in need. The challenge lies in community engagement and collective action, where every resident has a role in forging a healthier and more supportive future. From compassion to action, it is a call to treat mental health with the urgency and seriousness it deserves—placing care for the community at the forefront of Boulder County’s agenda.

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