Platte County approves tax for child and teen mental health, joining other MO counties

Platte County voters on Tuesday approved a quarter-cent sales tax that will raise millions of dollars to support children’s mental health services.

Approval of the measure will create the Children’s Services Fund of Platte County. The ballot question asked voters for a tax increase to put money toward services that fill gaps in available screening and mental health services for kids and teens in the Northland.

The question received 56% of votes in favor of the tax, and 44% opposed.

The tax is expected to generate nearly $5 million each year. The average county resident would pay about $20 annually for the new fund, according to the Platte County for Kids Coalition which supported the tax.

Voter approval comes after several months of back and forth between residents and the Platte County Commission, which unanimously opposed the question.

The county’s three commissioners, all Republican, refused to put the proposed tax on the ballot in the spring. Commissioners said they did not want to expand the government’s footprint. That prompted supporters of the tax to collect signatures to get the measure before voters anyway.

Supporters of the sales tax needed at least 8% of the county’s eligible voters to put the question on the ballot, or about 4,500 valid signatures.

The campaign was championed by several nonprofits including Beacon Mental Health and Synergy Services.

“This is a win for the children of Platte County!” said Corky McCaffrey, the community engagement coordinator for Synergy Services, a nonprofit part of the Platte County for Kids Coalition. “We will continue our mission to heal families and build a stronger community.”

Platte County will join Clay and Jackson counties in providing services for youth through similar funds.

This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 9:20 PM.