Sonoma County: Expanded Mental Health & Homeless Services Funded by Measure O

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors allocated $12.4 million on Tuesday, February 11, 2026, to bolster mental health and homelessness services throughout the county, utilizing funds from Measure O and state sources.

Voters approved Measure O in November 2020, authorizing a quarter-cent sales tax increase for ten years to generate an estimated $25 million annually dedicated to addressing mental health, addiction and homelessness. The tax increased the total sales tax rate in Sonoma County from 8.25% to 8.5%. The latest funding allocation includes $10 million from Measure O and $2.4 million from the state Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program.

Measure O funding supports a range of services, including Behavioral Health Facilities, Emergency Psychiatric Services, Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Outpatient Services, Behavioral Health and Homelessness Care Coordination, and Transitional and Permanent Supportive Housing. County officials estimate that over the next decade, Measure O will provide $250 million to these areas.

The Board of Supervisors’ decision follows a period of increased focus on behavioral health needs within the county. A Citizens’ Oversight Committee has been established to monitor the expenditure of Measure O funds, with regularly scheduled meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for June 3, 2026, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., followed by meetings on August 19, 2026, and December 9, 2026, both also from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

The expenditure plan for Measure O outlines investment into five program categories. Details of the specific allocations within those categories were not immediately available following the Board of Supervisors’ vote.