Longmont — Council members and state legislators on Aug. 18 discussed a proposed Boulder County sales tax to fund mental-health services and urged clearer ballot language, defined outcomes and municipal flexibility so Longmont could access funds to support existing local programs.

City staff and elected officials said they support investment in mental-health prevention and crisis response, but raised three consistent concerns: the ballot language lacked specificity about measurable outcomes and oversight; the proposal did not make clear whether municipalities that already run established crisis and community-response programs (for example, Longmont’s CORE/LEADs model) would be able to access funds; and there was no proposal for a sunset or renewal vote that would allow voters to reassess the program’s effectiveness.

Officials raised duplication concerns: county-levied funds could flow to services that overlap with existing city-funded programs, and the city wants assurances that the funding will augment — not supplant — current local services. Several participants urged a community-specific approach, arguing that what works in Boulder or Larimer counties may not map directly to Longmont’s existing service structure.

Council members also emphasized implementation detail. They asked for clarity on how proposals would measure outcomes (examples offered included reduced hospitalizations and reductions in crisis-driven 911 calls), whether funding could be directed for wraparound housing supports and how administrative costs would be limited so the majority of the revenue reached direct services.

Timing: speakers said county staff planned to move the proposal forward quickly and that council members wanted more time and clearer language before voters decide. Some officials expressed support for a time-limited levy (a sunset) that would require reauthorization, giving voters a chance to assess program performance before committing to a perpetual tax.

Discussion only: no council vote occurred. Officials said they would ask Boulder County for clearer ballot language, a mechanism for municipal allocations or a carve-out, and a measurable accountability framework before they would endorse the proposal.

Ending: attendees agreed to continue conversations with county staff and to press for ballot language that specifies outcomes, governance and municipal access to funds if the county proceeds with the referendum.