Special election on May 8 to determine if mill levy for SLMC will be raised

Theresa Davis, Gazette Editor
Posted 4/19/18

"We need to replace the roof, boilers and air handlers," Sundberg said. "We also need to update our surgical suites and the pre- and post-op areas, as well as the laboratory and in-patient pharmacy."

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Special election on May 8 to determine if mill levy for SLMC will be raised

Posted

A special election will be held on Tuesday, May 8, to determine if the South Lincoln Hospital District may increase the District’s mill levy from the current three mills to four mills, to continue to provide funding to support the South Lincoln Hospital and Nursing Center.

The increased mill levy would create an expected $467,000 of revenue for the hospital.

"We need the money for infrastructure and maintenance because we've seen a decrease in revenue over the past five years," said Dave Fagnant, president of the hospital's board of trustees. "We've had to defer maintenance, and along with inflation and keeping up with everything, we really rely on that tax revenue."

Carl Sundberg, CEO for South Lincoln Medical Center, explained what the funds would be used for if the public approves the mill levy increase.

"We need to replace the roof, boilers and air handlers," Sundberg said. "We also need to update our surgical suites and the pre- and post-op areas, as well as the laboratory and in-patient pharmacy."

The increase is expected to have an annual impact of $9.50 per year for a property valued at $100,000.

Sundberg said the updates would allow the hospital to meet current standards and improve patient care. Another project the funds  would be used for is replacing old radiology equipment.

"Those radiology requirements are changing, and the equipment is expensive," Sund- berg said. "It would be nearly impossible to pay for new X-ray and CT equipment without supplemental income. We make hardly any money on each X-ray, so without this increase, it would take 7 to 10 years of X-rays to make up the cost of the new equipment."

Sundberg discussed the hospital's recent announcement about plans to open an urgent care.

"We'll do that without the mill levy funds," Sundberg said. "We'll be using our existing facilities, and it will be mostly new materials and working with the people we already employ."

Sundberg emphasized that money from the proposed mill levy increase will go to maintenance first and foremost.

Fagnant agreed that the most important thing is to catch up on maintenance that has been deferred because of the recent revenue loss.

"Our facilities are convenient for the community," Fagnant said. "Costs of transportation for emergency care are astronomical, so the fact that we are able to provide those services right here is a great thing for the community. I think long-term, the community will really see the payoff."

Sundberg said the hospital employees are trying to give the public ample opportunities to learn what the proposed mill levy increase funds will be used for at the hospital.

"My vision and the board's vision for the next three to five years is to create a hospital with as many services in a reasonable scope," Sundberg said.

The last day to register to vote in advance for the May 8 special election is April 23, 2018. Otherwise, voter registration is permitted at the polls on the day of the election.

Absentee ballots will be available in the County Clerk’s Office through May 7. To find out the May 8 polling place for your precinct, visit lcwy.org or contact the Lincoln County Clerk's office at (307) 877-9056.

"We have a very nice facility. We get extremely high ratings on our nursing home," Fagnant said. "This would allow us to recapture a portion of the $800,000 decrease we've seen in the past five years. Budget is really important to us, and we've been stretching it to expand our services and provide excellent