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Governor signs bill for hospital election
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
The San Pedro Valley Hospital District (SPVHD) secondary tax election held Tuesday would not have happened had Arizona Governor Janet Brewer not signed emergency bill 1155 into law last week.
Ron McKinnon, CEO of the Benson Hospital, said the bill allowed the district to move forward with a special tax election.
The hospital was one of two in the state impacted by a 2007 law requiring school districts to hold override and bond elections only in November.
The problem with the law was that hospitals also have to hold such elections in November, and Benson and one other hospital in the state were faced with losing up to $1 million in revenue if an emergency bill wasn't passed by the state legislature to hold an election as planned this summer.
Governor Brewer signed the bill last Wednesday.
Even though the bill was going through a second round of approvals after it had to be amended to say districts with populations of 20,000 or less could hold a special election, Benson Hospital had already sent out ballots in the all-mail election. Residents had until 7 p.m. on Tuesday to return their ballots to the Cochise County Recorders' Office or Benson Hospital.
McKinnon said he was sure the state legislature would pass the bill, and to insure the well-being of the hospital, they had to move forward with election plans.
Results of the election were not available at press time, but will be on the News-Sun Web site at www.bensonnews-sun.com as soon as they are made public.
The SPVHD goes to voters every five years, asking them to approve a secondary tax. By renewing it this year, property owners would continue to pay 90 cents per $100 of the assessed valuation. The last initiative was approved in 2004.
Without it, the hospital's fate would likely be to close down.
With the governor signing the new bill into law last Wednesday, Tuesday's election will definitely be valid.
The San Pedro Valley Hospital District (SPVHD) secondary tax election held Tuesday would not have happened had Arizona Governor Janet Brewer not signed emergency bill 1155 into law last week.
Ron McKinnon, CEO of the Benson Hospital, said the bill allowed the district to move forward with a special tax election.
The hospital was one of two in the state impacted by a 2007 law requiring school districts to hold override and bond elections only in November.
The problem with the law was that hospitals also have to hold such elections in November, and Benson and one other hospital in the state were faced with losing up to $1 million in revenue if an emergency bill wasn't passed by the state legislature to hold an election as planned this summer.
Governor Brewer signed the bill last Wednesday.
Even though the bill was going through a second round of approvals after it had to be amended to say districts with populations of 20,000 or less could hold a special election, Benson Hospital had already sent out ballots in the all-mail election. Residents had until 7 p.m. on Tuesday to return their ballots to the Cochise County Recorders' Office or Benson Hospital.
McKinnon said he was sure the state legislature would pass the bill, and to insure the well-being of the hospital, they had to move forward with election plans.
Results of the election were not available at press time, but will be on the News-Sun Web site at www.bensonnews-sun.com as soon as they are made public.
The SPVHD goes to voters every five years, asking them to approve a secondary tax. By renewing it this year, property owners would continue to pay 90 cents per $100 of the assessed valuation. The last initiative was approved in 2004.
Without it, the hospital's fate would likely be to close down.
With the governor signing the new bill into law last Wednesday, Tuesday's election will definitely be valid.
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| Schools may have to use fake numbers | Tim Bee to attend luncheon in Benson to discuss state budget |
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
Infavor wrote on Jun 24, 2009 12:28 PM:
" I think that the physical therapy department is wonderful and if the hospital were to shut down, I would not be able to drive to Tucson 3 days a week for appointments! I don't see "sub-standard medical services" anywhere. If you were on a fixed income and not able to travel, how would you get the care you need? "
Nedoki wrote on Jun 24, 2009 4:35 AM:
Benson Hospital charges extortionate rates for sub-standard services.
This shouldn't be permitted, much less subsidized by the taxpayer.
We would be much better off if such facilities were closed down. Sub-standard medical services are worse than no services. "