EVERETT — A new tax to improve access to mental health services could send an extra $4 million to Snohomish County programs dealing with low-income housing, drug addiction and crisis intervention.
County Executive Aaron Reardon this week proposed using $1.5 million for low-income housing. Another $1.8 million would go to chemical-dependency and mental-health programs, as well as the county’s drug court. Finally, $500,000 would go to other county human services.
The plan has been forwarded to the County Council for approval.
A committee recently made recommendations to Reardon about how to spend money generated by the sales-tax increase, which took effect April 1.
The tax equals a tenth of 1 percent, or an extra penny for every $10 spent. It must be used to pay for services and to create new ways of helping drug addicts and people living with mental illness.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.