The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has authorized the distribution of Convention Facility/Liquor Tax money to two agencies in the county.
As a result of the action by county commissioners Tuesday (January 20th), the revenue will be split equally between the Community Healing Center (CHC) and Community Mental Health (CMH).
According to County Administrator Judy West-Wing, historically the county has sent 50 percent of the tax funds received to the Coordinating Agency in Kalamazoo with direction to immediately return 100 percent of those funds to the Community Health Center, formerly known as Michiana Addiction and Prevention Services (MAPS).
West-Wing explained that last year, Liz O’Dell, Executive Director of Community Mental Health, indicated that CMH would like to begin offering substance abuse services and would like to be considered to receive this funding.
With Tuesday’s action, the tax money will be directed to both agencies.
According to West-Wing, because the funds are based on liquor tax collections, the amount varies from year to year. In 2008, the amount sent to the Coordinating Agency was just over $103,000 ($103,129).
