Platte County, Missouri, voters have passed a quarter-cent sales tax to establish a dedicated fund for children and teens’ mental health services. Approved with 56% of the vote, the new tax will create the Children’s Services Fund of Platte County, aimed at addressing mental health care gaps for youth in the Northland. Expected to generate nearly $5 million annually, the tax will cost the average resident about $20 per year, according to the Platte County for Kids Coalition, which actively supported the measure.
The tax initiative faced initial resistance from local government officials, as all three Platte County commissioners, citing concerns about expanding government, unanimously opposed putting the measure on the ballot in the spring. This prompted advocates, including nonprofits such as Beacon Mental Health and Synergy Services, to gather over 4,500 signatures, representing at least 8% of the county’s eligible voters, to ensure the measure reached voters directly.
Following the successful vote, supporters expressed optimism about the positive impact on Platte County youth. “This is a win for the children of Platte County!” said Corky McCaffrey, community engagement coordinator for Synergy Services, a nonprofit aligned with the Platte County for Kids Coalition. “We will continue our mission to heal families and build a stronger community.”
With this approval, Platte County joins neighboring Clay and Jackson counties, which already provide similar funds for youth mental health services.
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