Listen to this note:
The ballot that registered voters in San Mateo County have received will have the opportunity to decide whether to be for or against Proposition 1, which seeks reform of addiction treatment and mental health care, as well as bonds to build treatment and housing places.
But what does this mean?
Proposition 1 authorizes $6.38 billion in bonds to build mental health treatment centers for people with mental health and substance abuse problems; It also seeks to provide housing to homeless people.
If accepted, it amends the Mental Health Services Act to provide additional behavioral health services.
Tax impact: Transfer approximately $140 million annually from existing county tax revenue to the state for mental health, drug and alcohol treatment. Increased costs of state bond payments of $310 million annually for 30 years.
Supporters of this proposal: California Professional Firefighters; California Association of Veterans Service Agencies; National Alliance on Mental Illness of California Opponents: Mental Health America of California; Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association; CalVoices.
What does your vote mean?
One vote for YEAH This measure means: Counties would need to change some of the mental health care and drug or alcohol treatment services currently provided to focus more on housing and personalized support services. The state could borrow up to $6.4 billion to build (1) more places where people can receive mental health care and drug or alcohol treatment and (2) more housing for people with those problems.
One vote for NO This measure means: Counties would not need to change the mental health care and drug or alcohol treatment services currently provided. The state would not be able to borrow up to $6.4 billion to build more places where people can receive mental health care and drug or alcohol treatment and more housing for people in such situations.
Arguments
Pros: Proposition 1 addresses California's urgent homelessness, mental health and addiction crisis, authorizing $6.4 billion in bonds and allocating billions more annually to expand mental health and addiction services, build permanent supportive housing and help homeless veterans.
Cons: Proposal 1 is huge, expensive and destructive. It costs more than 10 billion dollars, but it is not a ?solution? for the homeless. Now is a bad time for new bonds and debt. Proposition 1 cuts funding for mental health programs that work. Mental health advocates and taxpayer groups oppose it.
For additional information on Proposition 1 being promoted by Governor Gavin Newsom's Ballot Initiative Committee, voters can visit the site TreatmentNotTents.com.
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