Voters to Decide on Mental Health Board

Sangamon County voters will be asked on March 17, 2026, whether the county should establish a Mental Health Board funded through a proposed local sales tax. The binding referendum will allow residents to decide whether to create a locally appointed board to oversee investments in mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services.

Under the proposal, the Mental Health Board would be funded through a 0.50 percent sales tax, equal to five cents on a ten dollar purchase. County materials estimate the tax would generate approximately $14.7 million annually to support services such as crisis response, case management, housing support, culturally responsive programming, and other locally based mental health initiatives. Groceries and prescription medications would be exempt from the tax, and all revenue raised would remain in Sangamon County to fund services within the community.

The referendum stems from study and discussion at the county level regarding mental health and substance use services. The Sangamon County Board previously established a Mental Health Commission to evaluate local needs and service gaps, gathering input from health care professionals, educators, law enforcement, and community organizations. Following that review, the commission delivered its findings to the County Board, which ultimately approved placing a binding referendum before voters.

Commission findings identified gaps in crisis response services, long wait times for counseling, limited access to care in certain parts of the county, and increased strain on emergency rooms and the justice system when untreated mental health conditions escalate. The proposed board is intended to address those gaps through coordinated, locally guided investment.

If approved, the Mental Health Board could oversee the allocation of those funds and provide a public, locally appointed structure for reviewing and guiding investments in mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services. Similar boards currently operate in more than 90 counties and townships across Illinois.

A Vote Yes for Mental Health Committee organized by Satch Pecori and Ryan Croke has begun outreach efforts to inform voters about the referendum. Dozens of local leaders and organizations have signed on in support. More information about the proposal and supporting organizations is available at SangamonMentalHealth.com.

As the March 17 Primary Election approaches, the Sangamon County Clerk’s Office is reminding voters that they may participate without declaring a political party affiliation by requesting a nonpartisan, or referendum-only, ballot. This option allows residents to vote exclusively on public questions appearing on the ballot while opting out of partisan contests.

The Sangamon County Clerk’s Office encourages voters to review their options early, particularly those planning to vote by mail. Applications for vote-by-mail ballots must be received by March 12. Information on how to apply, along with details on early voting locations and Election Day procedures, is available through the Clerk’s Office website.

County officials note that the March primary offers voters multiple ways to participate, including early voting, vote by mail, and Election Day voting. Residents are encouraged to make a plan, review the ballot options available to them, and take part in the decision-making process on issues affecting the community.