Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Even if you don’t like the idea of voting for a political party in a primary election, you might be compelled to get a non-partisan ballot Tuesday.
That’s because Sangamon County voters are being asked during the primary election to answer a referendum – whether the county should form a mental health board, and implement a sales tax hike to pay for mental health-related services.
They could encompass services that could help local school districts a lot.
“We see that the kids need the services quickly,” said Jennifer Gill, Superintendent, Springfield Public Schools, on the WTAX Morning Newswatch. “The families need those services quickly. Sometimes…they have the difficulty to find the right place.”
District 186 has mental health rooms in each of the high schools, and partners with Memorial Health for the “Mosaic Program” — clinicians embedded in schools. But, that’s not as wide of a program as the district would like.
“It can expand the programs like Mosaic,” said Terrence Jordan, current Assistant Superintendent, who will replace Gill when she retires at the end of June. “We have it in about ten-plus schools, but we would like to have a program like that in all of our schools.”
Much like when a referendum was approved increasing the county sales tax to benefit infrastructure projects in all county schools, proceeds from this increase could do the same thing, as well as fund other community initiatives to address mental health in adults and kids alike.
If you choose not to vote for candidates, you ask can for a referendum-only ballot. In addition to the county-wide referendum, voters in the Chatham-Glenwood school district will be asked in their own referendum if bonds should be issued to cover a large list of deferred infrastructure projects within all school buildings.
Mental health was one of the first pressing needs that the Massey Commission wanted addressed.
CLICK HERE for more information, compiled from a group advocating for the passage of the referendum.
