Voters to Decide on Tax to Help Hospital
Voters in this North Coast town will be asked to decide in June if they are willing to pay $75 more a year in taxes to save their hospital.
Recent estimates show Jerold Phelps Community Hospital is running a $32,000 monthly deficit.
The hospital is operated by the Southern Humboldt Community Healthcare District.
Officials blame the financial shortfall on high service costs and low federal Medicare and state Medi-Cal reimbursements.
The special mail-in election June 25 asks voters to approve a boost in parcel taxes supporting the hospital from $25 annually to $100.
Two-thirds of the district’s voters must approve the tax hike. Supporters say that if the measure fails, the hospital probably will close, forcing patients who need emergency services to drive 40 minutes to Fortuna.
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