FAQs | Issue 1B | Boulder Behavioral Health

Your Ballot Measure Questions, Answered

We know you may have questions about the Behavioral Health Initiative,

how it works, what it funds, and why it matters. Here are answers to some of the most common questions to help you stay informed and engaged.

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Why Fund Mental Health,and Why Now?

Mental health services in Boulder County have been chronically underfunded. For decades, neither private insurers, Medicaid, nor state and federal governments have met the need.

Today, access is limited:

Crisis services aren’t available 24/7.
Fewer than 30% of local providers offer specialty services.
Fewer than 20% serve people with serious mental illness or emotional disturbance.

During COVID, Boulder County invested more than $10 million of federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) dollars into mental health and substance use programs. That funding ends in 2025. Without new, sustainable resources, thousands of residents will lose critical services.

After years of community outreach and survey results showing rising rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, one thing is clear: the time to act is now.

A volunteer group handing out food to someone in need, with a donation box visible.

How Will the Funds Be Spent?

A modest countywide sales tax would generate about $13.8 million in 2026. These funds would transform Boulder County’s mental health system by supporting five core service areas:

Crisis Response & Intervention
- Mobile crisis teams
- Walk-in centers
- Stabilization services
Access to Treatment
- Outpatient and residential care
- Services for both mental health and substance use disorders
Recovery Supports
- Case management
- Sober living and staffed residential care
- Peer services and step-down supports
Early Prevention
- School and nonprofit programs supporting youth and at-risk populations
Services and Resources Connection
- Connecting people to the right services and resources
  .

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How Decisions Will Be Made?

A Behavioral Health Implementation Working Group - made up of impacted community members, mental health providers, nonprofits, and local leaders - developed the plan behind this tax.

Funds will be allocated based on community need, with ongoing guidance from an Advisory Council and final approval from the Board of County Commissioners in public meetings.

Decisions about how funds are invested will be made with these core priorities at the center:

Early intervention – catching challenges before they escalate
Navigation – helping people find and access the right services
Crisis services – ensuring immediate support when it’s needed most
Treatment – providing effective, compassionate care options
Recovery – supporting long-term healing and resilience

These principles ensure that resources are directed where they can make the greatest difference, for individuals, families, and the entire Boulder County community.

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Will this Address Federal Cuts?

Federal behavioral health funding is shrinking, and Medicaid eligibility changes will leave more people uninsured. Local health centers will continue care but without reimbursement.

This tax ensures Boulder County can maintain, and strengthen, services even as federal dollars decline.

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Where Does the Money Go?

County programs

About $2M annually supports WellMind Connects (navigation) and the Community Assessment Team (crisis response).

Community-based organizations & schools

The majority of funds will be distributed to nonprofits and school districts for prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

A group of makeshift shelters and tents, covered in tarps, next to a dumpster, likely the shelters of homeless people, on a graffiti covered street wall

Will this Impact Homelessness?

Roughly two-thirds of unsheltered people report mental illness or addiction. Tax proceeds will:

Expand case management and clinical services through homeless providers
Increase residential treatment and recovery housing
Support reentry and stabilization programs like All Roads and Focus Reentry

While not every need can be met, and treatment must be voluntary, these funds will expand opportunities for people ready to change their lives.

An accountant in a blouse tapping on a calculator and looking at a clipboard, with papers with graphs scattered around the table.

Why a Sales Tax?

Issue 1B proposes a 0.15% countywide sales tax, just 15¢ for every $100 spent, to fund expanded behavioral health services.

Countywide solution: A sales tax spreads costs across residents and visitors.
Minimal burden: Just 1.5 cents on a $10 purchase.
Equitable design: Exempts food, menstrual, and incontinence products.
Property tax avoided: Rising property values already push homeowners to the limit.

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Is this Serving All Communities?

Non-English speakers

Half of funds go to community-based organizations, many of which serve non-English-speaking residents.

LGBTQ+ residents

Funding will build on successful grants to organizations already serving LGBTQ+ communities.

Community voices will guide how funds are used. An advisory board will oversee spending, a public website will show how funds are allocated, and progress will be tracked to ensure accountability and measure impact across all Boulder County communities..

Several U.S. $100 bills fanned out in someone’s hand.

How will this Make Limited Funds Go Further?

While no single funding stream can meet every need, Boulder County will leverage:

Medicaid reimbursements for health centers and recovery programs
$2-3 million annually from national opioid settlements (which are predicted to decline over time)
New tax funds to extend and strengthen services

Together, these streams create a stronger safety net.

A smiling young girl standing outside holding a small American flag.

Why a Three-Year Tax?

This will be the first dedicated local funding source for behavioral health in Boulder County. The three-year limit allows:

Time to build new systems and partnerships
Careful evaluation of results
Opportunity to reformulate allocations before asking voters to extend

This approach balances urgency with accountability.

A small group of people talking together in a school room, smiling in casual conversation and gesturing towards papers one of them is holding.

What is the Bottom Line?

Mental illness and substance use disorders are complex and cannot be eliminated entirely. But with $13.8 million a year, we can:

Expand treatment and crisis care
Prevent needless suffering
Support recovery
Strengthen our entire community

This measure gives Boulder County the chance to create the mental health system our community has long needed, and deserves.

A grayscale side photograph of the U.S. Capitol, showing columns and part of the dome.

Where Can I Read the Bill?

You can read the full text of the bill in its final form through two official documents: Resolution No. 2025-038 and Resolution No. 2025-039.

We’ve made both available on our website for easy access, and you can also download them as PDFs here: