Elgin Township 708 Mental Health Board’s request to collect taxes for mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services has been blocked for the second time in four years by the Kane County Clerk’s Office.
Elgin Township Supervisor Ken Brudell said officials will not impose the requested $1.4 million because it is higher than the amount assessed last year and violates the limits of the state’s property tax extension law. Stated.
Township officials said they believed the PTELL rule would supersede state law authorizing the creation of 708 mental health boards, but the clerk’s office was told by the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office that this was not the case. Brudahl said.
“The county would rather err on the side of caution,” he said.
Bruederle said a bill currently before the General Assembly would fix the issue, but it is unlikely to pass in time to affect this year’s levy. As a result, the maximum amount the government can collect is $80,000.
“While there are frustrations with the local (708) boards, we are creating a pathway (with the new law) to all mental health boards in the state,” Bourdelle said. “It won’t be until next year that things will get better.”
In the meantime, he said the town is applying for American Rescue Plan appropriation funds through Kane County in hopes of securing additional funding for the 708 board programs that will not be funded this year.
Bruederle said if the county approves the funding, it would help more than Elgin Township’s efforts because many agencies work throughout the county. “It would be a good investment (for the county),” he said.
The county’s American Rescue Plan committee will meet Wednesday, at which time Brudell will make his pitch for funding, he said.
“If we can get the federal grant (funding), it will go back into the community and there will be no tax on the taxpayers this year,” Bourdelle said.
Township voters approved a 2020 referendum establishing a mental health commission and creating a new tax to fund it. But the effort hit a snag when the clerk’s office refused to collect the tax due to the wording of the referendum question.
A law passed in 2022 would enable a referendum and pave the way for the creation of a board. But late last year there was debate over how much the Mental Health Commission should collect, with some officials wanting to collect less than what voters had approved. The issue was also resolved by legislation requiring townships to impose the maximum amount allowed through a referendum.
“Obstacle after obstacle comes our way. There is no easy path,” Bourderle said.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
