$12 million a year for youth could be on the ballot, find out what it could pay for

Monica Ruelas Mares, youth leader of the Sac Children’s Fund Initiative

Sacramento (June 13, 2022) An estimated $10 million to $12 million annually for youth programming could be on the ballot this November. The proposed ballot measure, titled Sacramento Children / Youth Health & Safety Act, would set aside at least 40% of the city’s total cannabis business operations tax to fund youth development and violence prevention programs. The funding generated by this proposal would be allocated to a new protected fund called the Sacramento Children’s Fund.

“When are we going to finally realize that prevention requires investment?” asked Monica Ruelas Mares, the youth leader from Sacramento Kids First Coalition who is heading up the initiative effort. “It requires real funding. Stable funding. Consistent funding. Children and young people need a city that supports them.”

Mayor Darrell Steinberg, councilmembers Jay Schenirer and Mai Vang joined the Sacramento Kids First Coalition at the Mack Road Valley Hi Community Center to announce the ballot effort flanked by youth that have organized and advocated for this initiative.

The proposal is expected to come before the Council in July for a vote to put it on the ballot. If adopted, the measure would be placed on the November ballot for City of Sacramento voters and would only require a simple majority to pass. If passed, it would into effect July 1, 2023.

“To all the young people, this is your campaign,” said Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “How can people like me with the title of mayor lead? The answer is pretty simple: support your (the youth coalition’s) leadership.”

(From left to right, Monica Ruelas Mares, Mayor Steinberg, youth advocates, Councilmember Mai Vang

City of Sacramento residents would not see any increase in taxes from this proposal. Instead the proposal would reallocate funding from taxes already being collected on cannabis business operations. A similar measure was brought forward in 2016 and again in 2020. Mayor Steinberg has credited the strong advocacy and tireless work of the Sacramento Kids First Coalition and Councilmember Jay Schenirer for ensuring that this proposal continued to move forward.

The proposal goals and eligible uses for the fund include supporting mental health, early learning support, and early intervention and prevention of violence, and homelessness. More specifically, funding from the initiative would only be allowed for the following purposes: mental health counseling and wellness services, substance abuse prevention services, street outreach, violence intervention, and case management, youth workforce development including career pathways to green jobs, summer and after-school programs, early childhood education and family support services.

“When our young people are successful than our communities are successful,” said Councilmember Schenirer.

Councilmember Jay Schenirer and Councilmember Mai Vang

Also included in the proposed measure is an advisory Planning and Oversight Commission that will partner with the Sacramento Youth Commission to provide feedback and help guide the investments made using the Children’s Fund resources as well as evaluate the outcomes. The City Council will still have the final decisions about how to allocate funds on an annual basis.

In fiscal 2021, City of Sacramento staff reported they provided $38.2 million dollars of programming to an estimated 60,000 Sacramento area youth. However, many youth serving organizations regularly report waitlists, lack of resources to work with additional youth people, and some young people simply not signing up because programming costs money.