September 16, 2024 |
Photo – Map of proposed Hospital District – By Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
Representatives from Memorial Hospital of Carbon County met with Hanna residents to discuss the proposed hospital district.
Last month, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners voted to add the creation of a taxpayer-funded hospital district to November’s general election ballot. If passed, the measure will impose a three-mill levy on residents living in Rawlins, Sinclair, Hanna, and unincorporated areas of northwest Carbon County.
Last Thursday, Memorial Hospital of Carbon County officials held an informational meeting at the HEM High School in Hanna. Director of Strategic Operations Stephanie Hinkle explained that MHCC is owned by Carbon County. However, Hinkle said the county does not physically maintain the hospital building.
Wyoming state statute 18.8.102 requires county commissioners to levy a sufficient tax on all the taxable property in the county to provide for the maintenance of the hospital or wing or portion thereof.
Hinkle said Memorial Hospital receives $150,000 a year from the county for building maintenance.
MHCC Director of Clinics Abbie Webster said the hospital building is 52 years old. Webster explained that keeping the aging facility operational costs roughly $1 million a year.
Strategic Operations Director Hinkle said Memorial Hospital is the only hospital in Wyoming without a taxpayer-funded district to provide additional funding. Due to rising healthcare costs, the hospital district is necessary for MHCC to continue serving the people of Carbon County.
The proposed hospital district will encompass Rawlins, Sinclair, and Hanna. Hinkle explained why other municipalities were excluded from the district boundary.
If passed, the hospital district will result in a three-mill property tax on homeowners within the proposed boundary. Using 2023 assessed values on properties, Hinkle explained how much residents will be taxed.
Hinkle acknowledged that taxes are unpopular. However, by breaking the taxes down, Hinkle said residents can see exactly how much the hospital district will cost.
If enacted, the measure will generate roughly $1.5 million annually for the hospital. Director of Clinics Webster said the money will pay for upgrades to the facility’s infrastructure and medical equipment. The additional funding could go toward expanding medical services at the hospital.
Webster said Memorial Hospital provides a financial benefit to Carbon County. Without the hospital, businesses may have difficulty attracting and retaining employees.
The financial situation at Memorial Hospital of Carbon County is dire. Interim Chief Executive Officer Gerald Parton said that without the additional funding provided by the hospital district, the Rawlins hospital may be forced to close.
The hospital district will be on November’s general election ballot. However, only registered voters within the district boundary will see the measure on their ballot.
If approved, a new board of directors will need to be elected to run the district. Two four-year and three two-year seats are open on the district board. On Tuesday, October 8th, the Carbon County Higher Education Center in Rawlins will host a hospital district board candidate forum. Residents may submit questions for the candidates by visiting the Higher Education Center website.
Memorial Hospital staff have scheduled two more public informational meetings. This Thursday, September 19th, hospital representatives will be at the Carbon County Fairgrounds Multiplex in Rawlins.
The following Thursday, September 26th, MHCC will hold the final community forum in the Sinclair Baptist Church. Both meetings are scheduled from 6:00 to 7:00 pm.
