Larimer voters to decide on behavioral-health facility

FORT COLLINS — Voters in Larimer County will decide in November whether to impose a quarter-cent sales tax to pay for a $20 million facility to house treatment for alcohol and drug abuse, mental health and detoxification.

In a courtroom packed with supporters of the ballot issue, Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved placing the issue on the general-election ballot.

If approved by voters, the tax — 25 cents on a $100 purchase — would begin being assessed Jan. 1 and extend for 25 years. It would be used to pay for building, improving, maintaining and operating the 51,000-square-foot facility, which also would house associated support services.

A campaign spokeswoman said a site has not yet been selected for the facility, but that a convenient location would be sought — likely somewhere between Fort Collins and Loveland.

Once built, the annual operating budget is expected to be $16 million, supporters say, which includes revenues of $4 million from Medicare and Medicaid.