JUNE 9, 2025 |
Photo – MHCC – Bigfoot99 file photo
Amid a county-wide funding shortfall, Memorial Hospital of Carbon County administrators are asking for more money to repair the aging facility.
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.
Here in Carbon County, the Board of Commissioners provides Memorial Hospital with $150,000 annually for building maintenance.
Last year, Memorial Hospital of Carbon County began a campaign to create a taxpayer funded hospital district. If passed, the measure would have established a three-mill property tax levy on homeowners in the proposed district, projected to generate $1.5 million annually for the hospital. The increased funding would have been used to upgrade medical equipment and maintain the 53-year-old hospital building.
Speaking at the September 12th hospital district meeting in Hanna, Memorial Hospital Director of Clinics Abbie Webster said maintaining the aging facility costs approximately $1 million a year.
Voters defeated the hospital district measure last November by just 89 votes.
The rejection of the hospital district by voters has not prevented the aging facility from continuing to deteriorate.
During the Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting on June 3rd, the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Kerry Ashment reported that on average, the hospital pays more than $1.1 million a year on building maintenance.
Recognizing Memorial Hospital is already facing a budget shortfall due to medical billing issues, Ashment proposed a novel solution. The hospital CEO asked the Board of Commissioners to raise their annual contribution by 233%, increasing it from $150,000 to $500,000.
Ashment said he is expecting to spend another $1.1 million on building maintenance this year. If approved, the additional funding provided by the county would help modernize the hospital building.
Earlier this year, the Board of Commissioners assessed all county-owned buildings to evaluate their condition. With the report in hand, Memorial Hospital Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Hinkle said she believes the Board should fully understand the problems facing the Rawlins hospital. Hinkle said despite lower property tax revenue, the hospital must request additional funding this fiscal year.
Commissioner Sue Jone said in the past, the county’s annual contribution to Memorial Hospital has been used for things other than maintaining the facility. If the increased funding is approved, Commissioner Jones demanded that the money be spent exclusively on building maintenance.
Commission Chairman Travis Moore thanked Memorial Hospital administrators for working to define what constitutes maintenance. With a clear definition in place, the Board of Commissioners can make more informed decisions about funding the Rawlins medical center.
The Board of Commissioners asked CEO Kerry Ashment to provide an itemized list of the building’s maintenance needs. Once they receive that list, the Board promised to discuss the hospital’s funding increase during upcoming budget talks.
