HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-042 - Res. Amending Res. #31-18 Sales and Use Tax for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Resolution # -u2 A-I
Amending Resolution #31-18
Renaming the 1/101h of 1% Sales & Use Tax for Mental Health and Substance Abuse
to Treatment Sales Tax and Establish a Collaborative Budget Development and
Approval Process for the Allocation of the Treatment Sales Tax under RCW
82.14.460
WHEREAS, RCW 82.14.460 (2) authorizes the County Legislative Authority to authorize, fix and
impose a sales and use tax in addition to other taxes authorized by law with a rate not to
exceed one-tenth of one percent; and RCW 82.14.460 (3) provides that monies collected shall
be solely for the purpose of providing new or expanded substance abuse or mental health
treatment services and for the operation of new or expanded therapeutic court programs, and
section (4)(d) states that moneys collected under this section may be used to support the cost
of the judicial officer and support staff of a therapeutic court; and
WHEREAS, in Resolution 28-16, the Board of County Commissioners reauthorized the
continuance of the 1/10th of 1% Sales and Use Tax with annual reports and evaluation; and
WHEREAS, services provided and funded by the tax should align with the priorities set forth in
the Mason County's Community Plan on Behavioral Health and the Therapeutic Courts 5-year
plan and
WHEREAS, this funding source has gone by different names in the county such as Sales & Use
Tax or 1/10 of 1% that may have created misunderstandings on the purpose and use of funds;
and
WHEREAS, under-spent budgets can create a fund balance which is an unsustainable funding
source for on-going programs and services; and
WHEREAS, budgets have been submitted and approved from different departments and special
requests made throughout the year impacting how the budget operates as a whole and creating
risk for over committing funds; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Mason County Commissioners that:
1. Henceforth, the funding source will be commonly known as the "Treatment Sales Tax"
to reflect the purpose of the funds and be consistent with the common name used by
counties throughout Washington State.
2. The Treatment Sales Tax will be a separate department within the Mental Health Fund
Budget; and
3. The next year's budgeted Treatment Sales Tax revenue will determine the money to
allocate to the TST program the following year. The budgeted TST revenue will be tied
to the budgeted amount of sales tax within the County's General Fund.
4. Community Services will maintain the Treatment Sales Tax Policy and Procedures for all
proposals and fund recipients to follow.
5. The board seeks to appropriate 10% of the Treatment Sales Tax toward administration
of the fund.
6. The board seeks to appropriate 65% of the Treatment Sales Tax to services to assist in
the operation of the Therapeutic Courts as well as other Mason County departmental
operated Behavioral Health Programs.
7. The board seeks to appropriate 25% of the Treatment Sales Tax to be contracted
through a Request for Proposal (RFP) or Request for Qualifications (RFQ)-process to
fund gaps in services including, but not limited to, intensive case management related to
mental health and substance abuse treatment, supportive services, insurance gaps,
transitional-aged youth, gaps to fund supportive housing services and other needs
outlined in the Mason County's Community Plan on Behavioral Health.
8. A minimum fund balance equal to three months of the amount collected in a one-year
period will be maintained to pay out services should the tax end.
9. Fund balances resulting in unexpended funds shall be reserved for one-time capital
expenditures or allocated for special projects as approved by the Commissioners.
10.To demonstrate that funds are directed to programs that achieve the goals of the
therapeutic courts and community priorities, improvements in program outcomes are
expected and will be assessed through quarterly and annual performance measures.
11. A quarterly budget reconciliation process is enacted to reallocate unspent funds to
contracted agencies, toward the Capital & Special Projects Reserve, or additional
proposal requests as decided by the Commissioners.
Approved this 4_ day of July 2021.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ATTEST: MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON
McKenzie mith lerk of the Board Ran4 Neatherl , Chair
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Kevin Shutty, mmissioner
Tim Whiteh ad
Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
Sharon Trask, Commissioner
C: Clerk of the Board
Treasurer
MASON COUNTY
I COMMUNITY SERVICES
Bui ding,Planning,Environmental Health,Community Health
The Department of
Community Services
Treatment Sales Tax
Policies & Procedures
per Resolution # 31- 18
Table of Contents
Section Title Page
Introduction
_ A County Operated TST Programs 1
B Non-County Operated TST Programs: Behavioral 2
Health (BH) Gaps and Needs Services
c Reserve Fund for Capital and Sp ecial Projects_ 3
D Performance Measures 4
Introduction
RCW 82.14.460 (2) authorizes the County Legislative Authority to authorize, fix and impose a
sales and use tax in addition to other taxes authorized by law with a rate not to exceed one-
tenth of one percent; and RCW 82.14.460 (3) Moneys collected under this section must be
used solely for the purpose of providing for the operation and delivery of chemical dependency
or mental health treatment programs and services and for the operation or delivery of
therapeutic court programs and services. For the purpose of this section, "programs and
services" includes, but is not limited to, treatment services, case management, transportation,
and housing, that are a component of a coordinated chemical dependency or mental health
treatment program or services.
This funding source has gone by different names in the county such as Sales & Use Tax or 1/10
of 1% that may have created misunderstandings on the purpose and use of funds. Under-
spent budgets can create a fund balance which is an unsustainable funding source for on-going
programs and services.
Budgets have been submitted and approved from different departments and special requests
made throughout the year impacting how the budget operates and creates a risk for over
committing funds.
Therefore, the purpose of the policies and procedures is to establish guidelines for a
collaborative budget development and approval process for the allocation of the Treatment
Sales Tax for Mason County.
Section A: County Operated TST Programs: Therapeutic Courts & Other
Departments
A.1 Policy Overview
The board seeks to appropriate up to 65% of the Treatment Sales Tax to programs operated by
Mason County. These would include the operation of the Therapeutic Courts such as the
judicial officers, support staff, clerk, prosecution, public defense, and Juvenile Services as well
as service programs in the jail, Sheriff's Office, Community Services Community Health Division
or another County department.
A.2 Policies and Procedures
1. Therapeutic Court, specifically Family Court and the supporting departments for
operations, is the foundational program of the TST funding services.
2. Other County TST operated programs will operate via an MOU.
3. New program and project proposals can be requested as needed to fill identified BH
gaps and needs. All proposals must go through Community Services for application
process: Proposal Application Completion-Community Services Review-HBHB Review-
Commissioner Review and Approval.
4. Budget Cycle: Annual, January 1 through December, 31
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A.3 TST Budget Timeline
1. June 1 — Community Services will request County Departments complete TST Budget
and Expense Excel Spreadsheet for submission
2. June 30 — Submission of itemized, programmatic budget on the TST Budget and
Expense Excel Spreadsheet and narrative to Mason County Community Services
3. July 15 - Community Services confirms proposed budget for County Budget Submission
and forwards to County Finance Office.
A.4 Budget Expectations:
1. Budget and Expense Excel Spreadsheet completed
2. Itemized list of projected costs for each of the following: Staffing such as Judicial
Officer, Program Manager, Case Manager, Prosecutor, Public Defense, Clerk, Guardian
ad Litem and operational costs (e.g. office equipment, training, supplies, technology,
graduation, travel, case management, and service providers). The itemized list should
provide sufficient detail to easily identify cost justifications including the level of staffing
(percent FTE for each staff and other operational costs (i.e. justification for training,
how many people will attend, and all costs associated with the training. Equipment
should include rationale for the equipment and the make, model and price for each
request).
3. Expenses will be paid by reimbursement including prosecution and defense time.
A.5 Budget Amendment & Reconciliation Process
1. Budget and expenses reviewed quarterly by Mason County Community Services
2. A collaborative effort will be made to reconcile budgets that are tracking over or under
by 10%
A.6 Fund Administration
1. The board seeks to appropriate 10% of the Treatment Sales Tax toward administration
of the fund by department managing the programs and funding.
Section B: Non-County Operated TST Programs: Behavioral Health (BH) Gaps
and Needs Services
B.1 Policy Overview
The board seeks to appropriate up to 25% of the annual portion of the Treatment Sales Tax to
fund gaps in services including, but not limited to, intensive case management related to mental
health and substance abuse treatment, insurance gaps, transitional-aged youth, gaps to fund
supportive housing services and other needs.
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B.2 Policies:
1. BH community assessment gaps and needs review and funding prioritization will be an
ongoing task of the Housing and Behavioral Health Board.
2. Prioritized projects may be funded by the County Commissioners for one or multi-years
or once funded, a contract may be extended to continue a successful funded service.
3. Funding may be through identifying a specific gap in BH services to be filled by
proposed projects or programs, by the County putting forth a Request for Proposal
(RFP) or Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to the community-at-large to meet an
identified gap or need in BH services.
4. All awards will be funded through a contract.
5. Funding will be granted on the fiscal year calendar from July 1 through June 30.
B.3 Procedures
1. Community Services staff will review with the HBHB annually (at a minimum every April)
• current status of BH gaps and needs and prioritization
• current service contracts status
• available funding.
2. Project or program proposals can be requested as needed to fill identified BH gaps and
needs.
3. If funding is available for project or program proposals, an RFP/RFQ will be released per
commission approval.
Section C: Reserve Fund for Capital and Special Projects
C.1 Policy Overview
The Reserve Fund for Capital and Special Projects will facilitate development of safe and sober
housing to assist in behavioral health recovery, increase access to behavioral health treatment
facilities, and target identified gaps and needs as they arise. All projects will be approved by
the Board of County Commissioners of Mason County.
C.2 Policy & Procedures
1. Fund balances resulting in unexpended funds shall be reserved for one-time capital
expenditures or allocated for special projects as approved by the Commissioners.
2. A quarterly budget reconciliation process is enacted to reallocate unspent funds to
contracted agencies, toward the Capital & Special Projects Reserve, or additional
proposal requests as decided by the Commissioners.
3. Any County Department wishing to fund a special project must submit a proposal to
Community Service's Treatment Sales Tax Program Coordinator with the minimum
components:
• Project or Program Title
• Funding Request
• Purpose
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• Needs Assessment
• Rationale with evidence that it qualifies under RCW 82.14.460
• Goals
• Return on investment, savings, cost-benefit analysis, and/or increase in number
of households served by these changes
• Implementation Plan to accomplish the goals and meet expected ROI or cost
saving projections
• Key Performance Measures on inputs, outputs and outcomes
4. Capital projects identified by the County Commissioners will follow the Request for
Proposal (RFP) process.
5. All approved projects will be paid for allowable expenses by submitting a monthly
invoice to the Community Services up to the approved allocation.
6. All necessary MOU's or MOA's must be established before any funds are reimbursed.
C.3 Project Examples and Descriptions:
C.3.1 Housing
The Capital Reserve Fund will assist in the purchase of real property for housing that is a
component of a coordinated chemical dependency or mental health treatment program or
service. The County does not intend to own the assets nor fund ongoing services but seeks to
collaborate with private non-profit organizations. Some of the types of housing projects
identified as a need in the community and are associated with mental health and/or substance
abuse treatment include, but are not limited to:
• Oxford Homes
• Fresh Start
• Diversion House (involuntary / voluntary)
• Step-down House
• Residential Facility
C.3.2 Treatment Facilities
Access to behavioral health treatment facilities is limited in the County forcing many people to
seek services at long distances. The Capital Reserve Fund will assist with the purchase and
construction or reconstruction of real property for providing behavioral health treatment
services. Type of services include, but are not limited to:
• Evaluation and Treatment Centers
• Detoxification services
C.3.3 Special Projects: Commissioner Approved Allocation of Funds
The County Commissioners reserve the right to allocate one-time funds for special projects. All
projects must meet the requirements of RCW 82.14.460 Any agency or government department
requesting funds must adhere to the policies and procedures.
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Section D: Performance Measures
D.1 Policy Overview
To demonstrate that funds are directed to programs that achieve the goals of the therapeutic
courts and community priorities, improvements in program outcomes are expected and will be
assessed through quarterly and annual performance measures.
D.2 Evaluation and Accountability
Programs or services implemented under the Treatment Sales Tax (TST) ordinance are
monitored by Mason County Community Services staff. TST grantees will have an evaluation
plan with performance measures developed for each funded proposal. This plan is developed in
partnership with Community Service's Public Health staff. The emphasis will be on capturing
data at regular intervals that can be used to determine whether the Treatment Sales Tax
funding met expectations. Evaluation efforts focus on standardized data collection and
reporting processes to produce the following types of information:
• Quality of services (outputs, inputs)
• Level of change occurring among participants (outcomes)
• Return-on-investment (system savings)
• Adherence to the model (fidelity)
Key measurements are the number of people served and the outcomes of these services with
attention paid to recidivism rates.
A program is considered successful if it can: 1) 'Verify' that, as a result of its activities, specific
individuals or groups are better off than before; 2) 'Document'that the money funding the
program was spent to achieve the goals that were stated (accountability); 3) Provide 'objective
proof' to people outside the program that it was a worthwhile use of resources, and; 4) Identify
strengths and weaknesses to allow for'quality improvement'.
D.3 Required Monitoring & Reporting
All awarded contracts and therapeutic courts will be required to submit performance reports on
a quarterly and annual basis for both fiscal year and, if necessary, calendar year using the
templates provided by the county. Mason County will provide templates but reserves the right
to change the requirements or reporting information to assess and analyze the effectiveness of
funded programs and/or update the Community Health Improvement Plan. The county
reserves the right to require monitoring activities for all funded programs and services. A
narrative report is also requested to explain the number-driven data, speak to trends,
successes, challenges and provide insights for future programming.
D.4 Evaluation Plan and Deliverables for Therapeutic Courts
The core performance measures for the Therapeutic Courts are adapted from the National
Center for State Courts Adult Drug Treatment Courts and Mental Health Courts. The
performance measures may adapt as Washington State standards are adopted or as approved
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by the Mason County Commissioners. Reports are due to Mason County Community Services
quarterly.
The Therapeutic Court staff will provide quarterly briefs to the County Commissioners following
the due dates of the quarterly reports to provide updates on such items as program
deliverables, outcomes, strengths, challenges, feasibility and fidelity.
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