Sonoma County collects over $500,000 in sales tax funds for behavioral health, homelessness

Sonoma County’s Department of Health Services today reported to the Board of Supervisors that more than $500,000 in Measure O  funds have been collected to date to support mental health and homelessness services, two major priorities for the Board of Supervisors.

The board update was part of a staff report on Measure O, a quarter-cent sales tax passed by voters in November 2020 to fund behavioral health facilities, psychiatric and crisis care services, substance use disorder services, homeless care coordination and transitional and permanent supportive housing. The county began collecting the tax in April 2021, and the first Measure O report covers the period from April 1 to June 30, 2021.

“Thanks to the support of voters who overwhelmingly approved Measure O, we expect to receive $250 million over 10 years to tackle some of our community’s toughest mental health challenges,” said District 4 Supervisor James Gore, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Stress, uncertainty and feelings of hopelessness and fear related to the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for reliable mental health funding.”

In total, Measure O had generated $536,454. The Registrar of Voters was reimbursed $271,244 for the cost of the election, leaving the Measure O fund with a balance of $265,209 as of June 30, 2021.

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Media Contact:

Matt Brown, Communications Specialist 
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org
(707) 565-3040
575 Administration Drive, Suite 104A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403