Started by Dave Heinlein
Oct 28, 2023
Oct 28, 2023
13
Concerned!
Oct 28, 2023
I just finished reading a post on the Message Board titled "A comment regarding our Hospital District" dated Oct 27.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT!
FUEL FOR CONCERN?
We should encourage our Hospital District Board to dive into the issue that is described as well as other health care "gaps in service" that have been raise.
Lets direct the Board to use accumulated reserves, not increased taxes, to fund Clinic operations until a complete scope of options and solutions is ready for implementation.
It seems the most effective way to present this directive to the Board is to defeat the levy lift proposition.
VOTE NO ON THE LID LIFT.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT!
FUEL FOR CONCERN?
We should encourage our Hospital District Board to dive into the issue that is described as well as other health care "gaps in service" that have been raise.
Lets direct the Board to use accumulated reserves, not increased taxes, to fund Clinic operations until a complete scope of options and solutions is ready for implementation.
It seems the most effective way to present this directive to the Board is to defeat the levy lift proposition.
VOTE NO ON THE LID LIFT.
Comment by Robert Buchholz
Nov 6, 2023
Nov 6, 2023
0
Comment by Robert Buchholz
Nov 6, 2023
Nov 6, 2023
0
Hi Dave,
If you want to see an action to reduce levy rates due to excess funds, you need to vote YES in 2023.
If you vote NO, a levy rate reduction action won't be possible until at least 2025.
Bob
If you want to see an action to reduce levy rates due to excess funds, you need to vote YES in 2023.
If you vote NO, a levy rate reduction action won't be possible until at least 2025.
Bob
Comment by Dave Heinlein
Nov 6, 2023
Nov 6, 2023
1
Mr. Buchholz,
Intentions are just easy handwaving gestures!
I'll wait to see the ACTIONS before passing any more judgements or expressing any more concerns!
Dave
Intentions are just easy handwaving gestures!
I'll wait to see the ACTIONS before passing any more judgements or expressing any more concerns!
Dave
Comment by Rob Thesman
Nov 6, 2023
Nov 6, 2023
1
"The LIHD commissioners are committed to compensating taxpayers with lower taxes in future years for any excess funds collected."
They could have documented that commitment in writing by including it in the levy language itself. But th ... Read All
They could have documented that commitment in writing by including it in the levy language itself. But th ... Read All
Comment by Robert Buchholz
Nov 6, 2023
Nov 6, 2023
2
Mr Heinlein,
It was not my intention to sidestep any issue. I simply think that Proposition #1 is a reasonable way to manage Healthcare Income, especially now that the LIHD is projected to be operating at a loss in 2024. The LIHD commissioners are committed to compensating taxpayers with lower taxes ... Read All
It was not my intention to sidestep any issue. I simply think that Proposition #1 is a reasonable way to manage Healthcare Income, especially now that the LIHD is projected to be operating at a loss in 2024. The LIHD commissioners are committed to compensating taxpayers with lower taxes ... Read All
Comment by Dave Heinlein
Nov 5, 2023
Nov 5, 2023
5
Mr. Buchholz,
My initial post in this thread raised two concerns specific to health care on Lopez. Your responses have sidestepped both of them. You have Not answered those concerns.
Yo ... Read All
My initial post in this thread raised two concerns specific to health care on Lopez. Your responses have sidestepped both of them. You have Not answered those concerns.
Yo ... Read All
Comment by Robert Buchholz
Nov 5, 2023
Nov 5, 2023
1
Hi Dave,
First, a small correction on the current tax rate. The 2023 LIHD rate is $0.481 per $1000, not $0.46. The rate increase is 55% not 66%. For the average Lopez property value of $800,000, the LIHD tax increase would be $215.20 for a new total of $600.00
The questions are:
Why is the Levy Lift for multiple years?
Why is a $0.75 per $1000 being asked for?
Why is there a potential increase of 6% per annum?
The overriding answer is to save taxpayer money.
The Levy Lift covers several years so the LIHD won't have to ask for a Lift every year. It costs money to place a measure on the ballot. The LIHD needs to send a check to San Juan County each time a Levy Lift is on the ballot. The multiple year Levy approved in 2018 did not need to be lifted until 2023.
The current Levy Lift proposal of $0.75 per $1000 was selected because it is consistent with the original Levy approved in 2018.
With national Healthcare costs rising at +6% per annum, the potential 6% per annum increase in Proposition #1 can keep Income more in line with Costs and avoid having multiple Levy Lifts. If Costs increase in a given year by 3%, the rate for the next year would not automatically increase by 6%. A 3% increase might be more appropriate. If Costs increase by 10%, the rate for the next year might go up by 6% but it will never exceed $0.75 per $1000.
If collected Levy funds are more than needed for LIHD operations, the LIHD commissioners are pledged to return the excess to taxpayers by reducing taxes in subsequent years. The Orcas Island Hospital District took that sort of action in 2023.
Hope this answers your concerns.
First, a small correction on the current tax rate. The 2023 LIHD rate is $0.481 per $1000, not $0.46. The rate increase is 55% not 66%. For the average Lopez property value of $800,000, the LIHD tax increase would be $215.20 for a new total of $600.00
The questions are:
Why is the Levy Lift for multiple years?
Why is a $0.75 per $1000 being asked for?
Why is there a potential increase of 6% per annum?
The overriding answer is to save taxpayer money.
The Levy Lift covers several years so the LIHD won't have to ask for a Lift every year. It costs money to place a measure on the ballot. The LIHD needs to send a check to San Juan County each time a Levy Lift is on the ballot. The multiple year Levy approved in 2018 did not need to be lifted until 2023.
The current Levy Lift proposal of $0.75 per $1000 was selected because it is consistent with the original Levy approved in 2018.
With national Healthcare costs rising at +6% per annum, the potential 6% per annum increase in Proposition #1 can keep Income more in line with Costs and avoid having multiple Levy Lifts. If Costs increase in a given year by 3%, the rate for the next year would not automatically increase by 6%. A 3% increase might be more appropriate. If Costs increase by 10%, the rate for the next year might go up by 6% but it will never exceed $0.75 per $1000.
If collected Levy funds are more than needed for LIHD operations, the LIHD commissioners are pledged to return the excess to taxpayers by reducing taxes in subsequent years. The Orcas Island Hospital District took that sort of action in 2023.
Hope this answers your concerns.
Comment by Dave Heinlein
Nov 5, 2023
Nov 5, 2023
1
Mr. Buchholz,
Fact is: the reserve fund does exist with sufficient funds to cover the projected budget short fall for the 2024 operating expenses even with the failure of Prop 1.
I don't question the LIHD commissioners intention to be good stewards of the district fu ... Read All
Fact is: the reserve fund does exist with sufficient funds to cover the projected budget short fall for the 2024 operating expenses even with the failure of Prop 1.
I don't question the LIHD commissioners intention to be good stewards of the district fu ... Read All
Comment by Robert Buchholz
Nov 5, 2023
Nov 5, 2023
3
Hi Kim and Dave,
The term "accumulated reserves" leaves the impression that this fund happened by chance. Instead, the LIHD created the Reserve fund in planned increments to cover unplanned expenses. The fact that there is a Reserve fund shows good stewardship by the LIHD commissioners. If ... Read All
The term "accumulated reserves" leaves the impression that this fund happened by chance. Instead, the LIHD created the Reserve fund in planned increments to cover unplanned expenses. The fact that there is a Reserve fund shows good stewardship by the LIHD commissioners. If ... Read All
Comment by Dave Heinlein
Nov 3, 2023
Nov 3, 2023
5
Kim,
Good question.
The Lopez Hospital District has said that it has a $600,000 cash reserve going in to the 2024 year. This money, as I understand it, is not committed to any specific use, it is simply funds that have accumulated over time. Dollars from our taxes that were not required to meet pa ... Read All
Good question.
The Lopez Hospital District has said that it has a $600,000 cash reserve going in to the 2024 year. This money, as I understand it, is not committed to any specific use, it is simply funds that have accumulated over time. Dollars from our taxes that were not required to meet pa ... Read All
Comment by Kim Nichols
Nov 3, 2023
Nov 3, 2023
0
What are the *accumulated reserves*?