I'm
writing in support of Measure H. This ballot initiative seeks the passage
of a $327 million dollar general obligation bond which will result in an
average tax assessment of $4.00 per month per $100,000.00 of assessed valuation
on real property. Okay, I'm the guy who usually objects to anything that
smacks of a tax increase. This particular bond will hit my pocket book as
much if not more so than those of other Visalians. However, there are a
number of reasons why I support Measure H.
1.
Economic impact: Kaweah Delta
Hospital (KDH) contributes a $1 billion dollar impact to our local
economy. It employs 4,200 staff members. The average hourly wage at
KDH is $31.50 while the average hourly wage in Visalia is $18.17. The
capacity to attract new businesses to Visalia is impacted by having a good
health care system in the community. KDH provides critical health care to
over 200,000 people in the area. The closest hospital with similar
capabilities is in Fresno, an hour away. When you need emergency care,
minutes can mean the difference between life and death. KDH is a quality
health care provider, a medical education facility with a residency program
which has grown to about 100 new physicians, an economic engine that creates
thousands of high-paying jobs, and a significant consumer of local goods and
services. It is an anchor to our downtown area. At our March
21 meeting, the Visalia City Council voted unanimously to support this
bond measure. Likewise, the Visalia Chamber of Commerce and other
business organizations support this endeavor. The bond monies and other
hospital funds will be used to build a new acute care hospital on Acequia
Street, while the current Mineral King wing will be repurposed for non-acute
care uses, putting us in full compliance with SB 1953.
2.
It's the law: SB 1953 was passed by our California
legislature in response to the Northridge earthquake in 1994. This
legislation requires hospitals to meet stringent earthquake standards by
2030. It mandates that general acute care hospital buildings must not
only be capable of remaining intact after a seismic event, but also capable of
continued operation and provision of acute care medical services after a
seismic event. It can be argued that Visalia is less prone to earthquake
damage than other parts of the state. In April 2014, hospital CEO Lindsay
Mann, Hospital Planning Director Mike Williams, and Visalia City Manager Mike
Olmos traveled to Sacramento to meet with senior officials at the Office of
Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD), seeking an exemption from
the stringent requirements of SB 1953. While the state officials
basically conceded that our current hospital would survive an earthquake, their
review of the statistics indicated that KDH would have difficulty remaining
operational following a strong seismic event. Accordingly, they denied an
exemption for us. Current law requires hospitals like KDH to close unless
they meet these new standards by 2030. We don't have the clout in the
legislature to change the law. Thus, we must make the best of this
situation and rebuild.
3.
Shared cost: KDH has skin in the game in that in
addition to the monies to be raised by this bond measure, the hospital will be
using their own cash reserves, revenue bonds and grant money to fund this
project.
4.
It's an investment: More than a tax or
loan, this bond measure is an investment in Visalia's future. A new
hospital facility will help us keep our current doctors, attract new doctors
and health care professionals, create new construction and medical jobs,
increase property values, and make Visalia a more desirable place to work, live
and play. This in turn will attract tourism and outside dollars, making
Visalia a destination. You'll be able to see how this money is spent, and
you'll be proud of the results.
For
these reasons I am a strong supporter of Measure H and ask that you join with
me in voting "yes" in support of its passage. A quality health
care facility will attract new businesses to Visalia and keep our local economy
vibrant.
Visalia Times Delta Editorial 4/23/16
