In early 2018, the San Miguel Behavioral Health Collaborative began discussing raising local dollars for behavioral health services. The collaborative recognized that funding streams were inconsistent, and that San Miguel County needed a local solution.  After receiving favorable results from a poll regarding San Miguel County resident’s likelihood to support a local tax increase for behavioral health funding, the Collaborative decided to pursue a county-wide ballot measure for the 2018 election.

2018 ballot measure 1A asked voters to support a 0.75 mill on all property in San Miguel County to fund four priority areas: 

Mental health counselors and programs in schools

Mental health and substance abuse crisis and emergency response services

Suicide prevention programs

Alcohol, opioid, and substance abuse prevention and treatment programs

Ballot measure 1A passed with 66% of San Miguel voters approving the measure.