AT LEAST 12 LOCAL BALLOT QUESTIONS SEEK FUNDING INCREASE FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Voters across Colorado are deciding the fate of at least a dozen local ballot measures seeking funding for better mental health care services.

The questions range from tax increases to local budget shuffling — all aimed at building up prevention and treatment services in schools, jails and hospitals.

Andrew Romanoff is president of Mental Health Colorado. He spoke at a Fort Collins event in support of Larimer County’s sales tax question, Issue 1A, on Oct. 30. He says the topic is resonating for many people.

“I think what’s happening is a lot of communities recognize that it’s cheaper to prevent or treat mental illness than to ignore it or to criminalize it,” he said. “A lot recognize that waiting for Washington to solve these problems is not a recipe for progress.”

The Colorado Secretary of State’s office says more than 600,000 people have already turned in ballots ahead of next week’s election.

Counties with mental health related ballot questions this year

Adams
Arapahoe 
Boulder 
Denver 
Douglas 
Jefferson 
Larimer 
Pueblo 
Pitkin 
San Miguel 
Summit