YES on Boulder County Ballot Issue 1B
YES: Boulder County Ballot Issue 1B: Mental and Behavioral Health Sales and Use Tax
The Boulder County Mental and Behavioral Health Sales and Use Tax ask voters to approve an additional sales and use tax of 0.15% for three years of for the purpose of addressing unmet needs of youth, adults, families, unhoused individuals, and older adults in Boulder County with or at risk of mental health and substance use disorders by providing mental health crisis services; suicide prevention and intervention; mental health and substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery; treatment services for unhoused individuals; and assistance finding appropriate services through community-based organizations, governmental entities, and other options; and shall the revenues and the earnings on the investment of the proceeds of such tax, regardless of amount, constitute a voter-approved revenue change; all in accordance with Board of County Commissioners’ Resolution No. 2025-038.
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Why Vote Yes on 1B?
Why Yes on 1B?
Hear directly from Colorado State Senator (SD18) and longtime mental-health advocate, Judy Amabile on why this measure matters:
I am cautiously supporting Boulder County’s proposed 0.15% sales and use tax (Ballot Issue 1B) for mental and behavioral health. If approved, the tax will run for three years (2026–2028) and is projected to generate about $13.8 million in its first year. These funds would support crisis services, suicide prevention, addiction treatment, navigation assistance, and services for people experiencing homelessness — through both county-run programs and grants to community providers.
It is clear that the county needs this revenue to sustain mental health programs already in place. But it is unclear how much money will be available for new programs. The resolution does not specifically address a critical gap in our system: residential and long-term treatment for people with severe mental illness and addiction. Without that infrastructure, our community will continue to see homelessness, overcrowded jails, overburdened emergency rooms, and needless suffering in our streets.
I appreciate that the revised three-year timeframe (shortened from the original 15-year proposal) will provide a bridge to keep services going while the county develops a more comprehensive plan. County leaders have pledged to use this period to strengthen transparency, measure outcomes, and come back with a clearer proposal for long-term investments to address some of our community's biggest problems related to untreated, severe mental illness and addiction.
This temporary tax is not the full solution, but it is a necessary step to keep services afloat and create space for planning a real continuum of care. For these reasons, I will vote yes.
- Judy Amabile, Colorado State Senator, SD18