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Resident asks Aspen council for temporary city backing of local mental-health fund
Summary
A public commenter told Aspen City Council that the local mental-health fund's administrator has stopped operations and asked the council to signal one-year support of $50,000–$100,000 to sustain roughly $200,000 a year in client services while longer-term distribution is resolved.
A public commenter identified only as Tory told the Aspen City Council on Feb. 10 that the nonprofit that had been distributing the local mental-health fund "has called it quits," leaving the community fund searching for a distribution plan.
Tory said the fund was seeded with "$50,000" from the community foundation and typically supports about "$200,000 a year for direct mental health services" such as counseling for residents in need. Tory asked the council to give a preliminary signal that the city would partner at some level — suggesting a one-year contribution in the range of "$50,000 or a $100,000 a year" to help bridge administration and distribution while county and hospital partners pursue a permanent solution. "This obviously has to go to budget consideration," Tory added, asking only for a "nod of the head" now.
Council members did not take immediate action but received the comment and were urged to coordinate with county staff (Tory recommended contacting Jordana Cibella at the county). The speaker framed the request as annual, not perpetual, and said the city’s prior support had come from revenue such as the tobacco tax. Councilors thanked the speaker and noted the city manager and relevant staff would include the request in budget discussions if the council expresses interest.
Provenance: Staff and public-comment segments introducing and discussing the fund appear in the meeting record from SEG 028 through SEG 066 (topic intro) and follow-on remarks through SEG 063 (topic finish).
