The City of Bloomington and Town of Normal are asking McLean County government to suspend collection of a 1% sales tax to support mental health initiatives in the county for at least one year.
That tax money would instead stay with the municipalities during that time.
The County Board’s Executive Committee is expected to consider the measure during its meeting at 4 p.m. Monday. The plan would also require approval of the full county board, which meets on Thursday.
The county also will consider hiring an independent auditing firm to examine revenues and expenses in the county’s Mental Health and Public Safety fund that has an approximate $20 million balance according to a county report.
The county has been collecting sales tax money for mental health since 2016.
Some elected officials have at times questioned how the county has been spending the money and why so much of it has not been spent. County officials have explained that all but about $4 million is accounted for to support mental health programs and initiatives.
Some of the funding also has been used for matters involving public safety, such as paying down debt on the McLean County Jail and a law enforcement database overhaul.
The proposal to suspend the tax collection comes after the county last year changed its decision-making process on how the tax dollars are being spent, with the creation of the Mental Health and Public Safety Fund Advisory Council [FAC] that submits its funding recommendations to the county board, based on focus areas highlighted by the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council [BHCC] that is now independent of county government.
If approved, the revised intergovernmental agreement would be made retroactive to July 1, 2025.
