Legislature overrides county executive veto for mental health levy ordinance

The Jackson County Legislature on Sept. 30 voted to override the county executive's veto of ordinance 6,133, which adjusts the levy rate for the county mental health fund. Clerk Clark recorded seven yes votes and two absent, carrying the motion to override.

Chair, explaining the ordinance, said the 2025 mental-health rate was 0.0969 and the proposed 2026 rate is 0.1018, which the chair said would produce approximately $207,208 more for the fund. "The mental health fund in 2025, was at a rate of 0.0969. The 2026 proposed rate is 0.1018. Calculating approximately a $207,208 difference," the chair said during discussion.

Legislator Anderson, who moved the override, said the nominal tax-rate number alone would not maintain funding because assessed values have fallen. "This is not an increase for new staff. This is not an increase to, fill their coffers just for any reason. This is literally from the finance department to keep these funds flat as they should be," Anderson said, arguing the adjustment preserves funding for vulnerable residents who rely on mental health services.

Legislators pressed staff about the levy’s impact on taxpayers before the vote; members said the county's finance calculations showed the change would amount to about $1 per property when spread across roughly 300,000 parcels for the two contested ordinances together. The chair and proponents emphasized the override is intended to maintain current service levels rather than fund new programs.

The clerk announced the outcome: seven yes votes, two absent. The ordinance will return unsigned by the county executive, according to remarks later in the meeting, meaning the county executive said he will not sign the measure even after the legislature’s override.