Supervisor John Gioia is suggesting a possible sales tax proposal to keep Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo open by looking into whether or not a countywide sales tax is possible and a county takeover is feasible.
Facing an $18 million deficit, Doctors Medical Center, a 189-bed facility located in San Pablo that serves West Contra Costa County since 1950 could close in July after a recent parcel tax failed. The tax would have raised an estimated S20 million.
According to the statement put out by Supervisor Gioia, on June 3rd, the Board of Supervisors will consider whether to conduct a poll to measure support of a sales tax measure. However, several cities in Contra Costa are already at the maximum sales tax rate and we need state legislators to raise the sales tax cap.
The following statement was issued May 22, 2014 by Supervisor Gioia
Doctors Medical Center and its emergency room are an important part of the healthcare system here in West County. That’s why I advocated for Contra Costa County to step in to help save Doctors Hospital when it filed for bankruptcy in 2006.
Since 2007, a unique partnership between Contra Costa County and the West Contra Costa Healthcare District has brought in over $70 million in funding from federal, state, county and other hospitals, and has resulted in cutting hospital losses from $36 million per year in 2006 to about $18 million today.
Working with the community we successfully passed a parcel tax in 2011, receiving 74% voter support, bringing in about $5 million per year in additional revenues.
Despite these substantial efforts and with the recent loss of a parcel tax measure that would have brought in about $20 million per year, Doctors Hospital now faces imminent closure again.
Alameda has a dedicated sales tax for healthcare. Something we do not have here in Contra Costa. In an effort to find a long-term solution, I am working with Supervisor Karen Mitchoff to bring a proposal to the Board of Supervisors on June 3rd to explore the County’s health, public safety, and other vital programs. The new revenue will help support Doctors Hospital. It would require a majority vote to pass.
On June 3rd, the Board of Supervisors will consider whether to conduct a poll to measure support of a sales tax measure. However, several cities in Contra Costa are already at the maximum sales tax rate and we need state legislators to raise the sales tax cap.
I am working with Assemblymember Nancy Skinner, who has agreed to work with us to get immediate legislation to raise the sales tax cap in our county to allow this tax measure to be placed on the November 2014 ballot.
I’ve also had conversations exploring options with California Secretary of Health and Human Services Director Diane Dooley, Congressman George Miller, State Senators Loni Hancock and Mark DeSaulnier, and Assemblymember Nancy Skinner. County Health Director Bill Walker is in contact with the leadership of other local hospitals.
I appreciate the efforts of the community and the hospitals employees to keep the hospital open. I look forward to continue working with the community to pass a countywide sales tax measure to bring badly needed new revenue to support Doctors Hospital and other vital programs in our county.
The Statement can be found online at:
http://ca-contracostacounty.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/31016
5 comments
Doctors Hospital serves West Contra Costa! No way should the rest of Contra Costa have its sales tax increased to support Doctors Hospital.
I agree with Arne. No to this lame idea.
Hey, maybe we can get the rest of the county to send money to our fire district!!!!
Read my lips; NO NEW TAXES.
It’s bad enough that the community college district wants more $$$ in June and our fire district will try for some kind of tax $$$ in November…..John Gioia wants to spend $$$ more money $$$ in an effort to see if the entire county will shell out $$$ (what we don’t have) to keep a west county hospital open? What is that guy smoking? I hope the rest of the board of supervisors along with the public and media, tells him to go pound sand. Increasing taxes to fund a welfare hospital is going to drive even more people and business right out of this county and this state. Nice job, John Gioia. Here is an idea Mr. Gioia; quit wasting what little money we have.
What a worm.
[…] On May 22, Supervisor Gioia issued a statement about a potential sales tax to help keep Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo open—a 189-bed facility facing an $18 million deficit. […]
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