Get to know the county's mental health millage

Feb. 08--Ottawa County voters heading to the polls in three weeks will be asked to decide if they want a new millage to support county mental health services.

With a March 8 election on the horizon and absentee ballots out to voters, the Grand Haven Area League of Women Voters has an event planned for 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, to inform voters about the millage. It will take place at the Grand Haven Community Center, 421 Columbus Ave.

"This event is strictly informational in nature, not a pro/con or debate-type format," said Christine Baker of the local League of Women Voters chapter. "Lynne Doyle from (Ottawa County Community Mental Health) and Patrick Cisler from the Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance will speak about current funding and the need for millage, respectively."

The proposal asks for 0.3 mill, or $30 per $100,000 of taxable valuation, per year for 10 years. All money collected from the millage -- an estimated $3.2 million annually -- would go to Ottawa County Community Mental Health, an agency that's had its share of funding issues recently.

CMH lost $2 million in funding from the state in its last fiscal year, and faces another $6.8 million during the next four years because of changes in Medicaid distribution -- a change that has an affect on preventative and "safety net" programs. These reductions caused CMH to lay off some staff and discontinue some services.

"We hope to attract the community to hear about this important vote," Baker said of the forum. "It is especially timely with a spotlight on the inadequate resources for mental health in our country, and in light of a local community focus on the same issue."

Michigan Public Act 269, put into effect earlier this year, limits the ability of local communities to talk to voters about ballot proposals within 60 days of an election. In January, Ottawa County instituted a gag order on talking about the millage vote in face of the new law in order to avoid potential legal repercussions, meaning CMH couldn't distribute information to voters.

A preliminary injunction was issued Friday by a federal judge, halting the act for the time being.

"(I) don't think it will change the League event much, though," Baker said. "(It) maybe will give Lynne (Doyle) more freedom to speak."

With options limited in how voters could get information on the proposal until just recently, Baker said the upcoming event takes on an extra importance.

"Voter education is a primary mission of the League, so yes -- I think we are an organization with the responsibility to get information out about upcoming millage elections in light of the recent legislative restrictions on public bodies," she said.

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