Residents will now have access to crisis care treatment. An estimated $1.3 billion in generated revenue from a levy will go towards the creation of a regional network of five crisis care centers throughout the county for people needing mental health treatment. The King County Canvassing Board will certify the results of the election until May 5 that passed the levy which received 57% approval from voters.
This is big for addressing mental health. King County Crisis Care Centers Levy (Proposition No. 1) will fund behavioral health services, including construction and operation of five walk-in crisis centers countywide. The property tax, set at 14.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed home value, would raise an estimated $1.2 billion over nine years.
The levy will cost property owners approximately $121 a year for a median priced home in King County, according to estimated 2024 home values. King County has a total of 244 mental health residential treatment beds for the entire region in 2023. That is down 111 beds from the capacity of 355 beds in 2018.
The need is great and is to come quick. The crisis care centers system create more same-day access to care for people in need. King County Executive expects the centers to help reduce the use of costly hospital stays and jails by better connecting people to available treatment options.
The crisis care centers will provide some help for city officials throughout King County as they scramble to find their own enforcement on drug possession. The urgent work by cities is a result of the failed Senate Bill last month that would have provided a permanent law against drug possession violators. The current law is a temporary fix to the issue that is set to sunset on July 1 throughout Washington state.
