To: County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Department of Health Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Nolan Sullivan, 707-565-4774
Vote Requirement: Informational Only
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Measure O Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024-2025
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Receive the Measure O Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 as approved by the Citizen’s Oversight Committee for Measure O
end
Executive Summary:
The Citizen’s Oversight Committee for the Measure O Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance is submitting the Annual Report for FY 2024-2025 associated with the ten-year measure to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. The Oversight Committee affirms that the expenditures meet the intent of the ordinance. The Measure O Annual Report provides the Board with an update on the programmatic spending and accomplishments of Measure O funding achieved during FY 2024-2025 as administered by the Sonoma County Department of Health Services.
Discussion:
In November 2020 Sonoma County voters passed Measure O to provide essential funding for mental health and homeless services with 68.07 percent of the vote. Measure O, a one-quarter cent sales tax, was estimated to generate over $25 million each year for ten years to help protect essential mental health and homelessness services. The Measure O Sales Tax Ordinance identified five categories of services to be funded with the revenue:
1) Behavioral Health Facilities,
2) Emergency Psychiatric and Crisis Services,
3) Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Outpatient Services,
4) Behavioral Health Homeless and Care Coordination, and
5) Transitional and Permanent Supportive Housing.
The Measure O Expenditure Plan designates a set percentage of funding for each category.
On December 7, 2021, the Board of Supervisors established a Citizen’s Oversight Committee to monitor the implementation of Measure O. On December 10, 2025, the committee voted to confirm that the Measure O expenditures for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 met the intent of the measure, and the annual report appropriately details remaining fund balances for behavioral health and homeless services in future years. This past fiscal year was the fourth full year of Measure O funding. Tax revenues for the year again exceeded the initial projections made when voters considered Measure O. The Fiscal Year 2024-2025 expected revenue was budgeted at $32,865,501 and Department of Health Services received $33,089,807. The surplus has provided capacity to pursue expanded opportunities within the established categories to support our community.
For FY 2024-2025, below are the Measure O funds used/spent by category:
1) Behavioral Health Facilities - $15,356,478
2) Emergency Psychiatric and Crisis Services - $29,858,005
3) Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Outpatient Services - $3,671,981
4) Behavioral Health Homeless and Care Coordination - $5,164,950
5) Transitional and Permanent Supportive Housing - $625,740
Program Updates/Highlights for FY 2024-2025 (See Measure O Annual Report for additional program highlights)
While not encompassing every program and service funded by Measure O, these following programs likely would not exist without it. They exemplify the successful use of Measure O dollars to support vital services. Together, they enable Sonoma County to offer a local behavioral health system few counties can match.
Mobile Crisis Continuum
• Mobile crisis teams provide rapid, on-site support for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis
• Sonoma County Mobile Support Team (MST) resolved 1045 (71%) of in-person calls without law enforcement presence
• inRESPONSE (Santa Rosa) completed 5817 calls for service and had 4810 law enforcement diversions
• SAFE responded to over 13,000 calls for service across all of its service areas (Petaluma, Cotati, Rohnert Park and Sonoma State University)
Sonoma County Healing Center (Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF))
• Allows clients to remain in the county rather than being placed elsewhere, reducing hospitalization costs and keeping them close to family and support systems
• Typical stays of up to 14 days act as a bridge between programs like Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) and MST and community programs such Crisis Residential Treatment
• Provided care to 208 residents in FY2024-25
Harstad House (Crisis Residential Treatment)
• Served 177 adults in crisis over the past year, preventing costly hospitalizations
• Exceeded performance goals with 95% of discharged individuals moving to less restrictive setting and 97% not requiring inpatient hospitalization during stay
CAPE (Crisis, Assessment, Prevention & Education)
• Returned to 16 high school campuses after 6-year pause, funded by Measure O
• Connected 109 students to care, responded to 33 on-campus crises
• Provides same-day crisis response and ongoing support to prevent tragedies
Santa Rosa Junior College Counseling
• Expanded mental health team with culturally focused therapists and social workers
• Served 200+ students in Q4 2025, reached 20,000 via social media
• Provides crisis therapy, healing circles, and culturally grounded services
The Annual Report includes a table that details Measure O revenue, expenditures, and fund balance ending June 30, 2025. The English version of the Measure O Annual Report is provided as Attachment 1 and the Spanish version is provided as Attachment 2.
The Annual Report is also a tool for communicating to the public the impact of these Measure O funds in providing essential services to the community. The Measure O Annual Report will be posted on the County’s website and emailed to the list of stakeholders and public who have joined the Measure O mailing list. Hard copies in English and Spanish are available through the Department of Health Services by emailing requests to MeasureO@sonomacounty.gov.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Healthy and Safe Communities
Goal: Goal 4: Reduce the County’s overall homeless population by 10% each year by enhancing services through improved coordination and collaboration.
Objective: Objective 3: Increase investment in programs that treat underlying causes of homelessness, including substance abuse, mental illness, poverty, and lack of affordable housing.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
On March 18, 2025, the Board authorized the execution of agreements with organizations selected as a result of the Measure O Behavioral Health and Homelessness Pathways to Sustainability Notice of Funding Availability as well as the execution organizations selected for Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention funding.as part of the same Notice of Funding Availability
On September 23, 2025, the Board approved the Appointment of Mark Beiting to the Measure O Citizens’ Oversight Committee.
On June 3, 2025, the Board approved the Appointment of Colleen O’Neal to the Measure O Citizens’ Oversight Committee.
On March 11, 2025, the Board received the Measure O Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2023-2024
On December 10, 2024, the Board received an informational update on the status of Measure O.
On November 5, 2024, the Board approved the Re-appointments of Edward Sheffield, Betzy Chavez, Shannon McEntee, Gregory Fearon, Shirley Zane, Ben Ford, and Kevin McDonnell the Measure O Citizens’ Oversight Committee.
On February 27, 2024, the Board received the Measure O Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
On April 18, 2023, the Board A) Received the Measure O Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.
On May 24, 2022, the Board received the Measure O Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2020-2021.
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There are no fiscal impacts associated with this item.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Measure O Annual Report (English)
Attachment 2 - Measure O Annual Report (Spanish)
Attachment 3 - Presentation
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None