The Pierce County Council has decided not to ask voters if they would pay more sales tax to help the mentally ill. Since last fall, council members considered putting an advisory ballot measure on this November's general-election ballot asking whether the county's sales tax should be raised one-tenth of 1 percent to provide mental-health services for people who can't get such help through medical plans. At its Dec. 16 meeting, the council postponed indefinitely any plans for an advisory vote. Such votes are non-binding but give lawmakers an indication of whether the public supports proposals such as tax increases. The council's action coincided with Stan Flemming leaving the council at the end of 2014 after losing a bid for re-election. Flemming recommended the tax hike for mental health funding last October, but little support was expressed by other council members. State law allows counties to designate a portion of their local sales tax for mental health programs. Flemming said additional revenue is needed to provide proper resources for the mentally ill. He noted an increasing number of people with mental issues are being dealt with in hospital emergency rooms, jails and other facilities instead of receiving treatment that's specific to their conditions. Under the proposal that the council has now put on hold, sales tax proceeds would help pay for services at the county jail for mentally ill inmates. The money also would help with the recruitment and training of mental health professionals. Proposals in recent years to increase Pierce County's sales tax have had spotty success with voters. They turned down Pierce Transit's request in 2012 for a three-tenths of 1 percent increase to boost funding for bus service. In 2011, voters approved a one-tenth of 1 percent hike in support of a new countywide 9-1-1 emergency communications system. To address anti-tax feelings, Flemming had said the tax increase that he was proposing should be in effect for only three years. He said that would prevent it from remaining in place voters chose to continue it.
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