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Community Supported Healthcare

Making an Informed Decision About Your Public Hospital District

Public Hospital District No. 1, Clallam County, Washington, better known as Forks Community Hospital (FCH), exists today because of its support through taxation. FCH is a Washington Public Hospital District (District).

Community Supported Healthcare

Not all hospitals are alike, for good reason.

Unlike a for-profit or system-owned healthcare organization with other available assets and sources of revenue, FCH’s ability to continue providing essential health services to the community relies on receiving property tax dollars.

 

Under state law, public hospital districts are authorized to levy regular property taxes at a rate of up to 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. Because state law limits the amount taxes can increase without voter approval, the District’s levy rate has declined from 75 cents in 2006 to 42.8 cents in 2023.

 

The District last asked voters for a levy increase in 2006. Much has changed since then. The increased costs of providing essential healthcare services and operating a hospital and three clinics require a significantly higher amount of financial resources than what FCH receives today.

FAST FACTS

Important Levy Facts

$0.75

In February 2024, The District is requesting voter approval to restore its levy to 75 cents per $1000 of assessed value beginning in 2025, an increase of approximately 32 cents above the tax levy rate in 2023. 

+0.32

Based on the current assessed value of property within the District, the proposed 32-cent increase in the District’s levy would result in an estimated additional levy amount payable by an owner of a home with an assessed value of $300,000 of $8.00 per month or $96 per year. 

$8.00

If approved by voters on February 13, 2024, the 2025 levy amount will be used to compute the limitations for the District’s levies in subsequent years.

The levy will provide additional funds to support health care services, including the purchase of medical equipment and the support of additional staffing and recruitment.

What is a Public Hospital District

Watch this video to understand Washington Public Hospital Districts and how they serve communities and are governed by members of the community.

Ensuring Local Access to Healthcare

Tax-supported rural hospitals are essential to ensure access to quality care close to home. FCH physicians, nurses, and hospital staff work 24 hours a day, every day of the year, to deliver safe, patient-centered care for all in the community.

Investing in Facilities and Technology

Time does not stand still for technology, and this is especially true for healthcare.  From diagnostic imaging to electronic medical records, FCH must stay in step with the latest technology to benefit the patients we serve and ensure we can compete in workforce recruitment and retention.

Q&A

01. What is a Public Hospital District?

Public hospital districts are governmental entities established by Washington State statute. The legislature granted local communities the authority to create hospital districts in 1945. Today, nearly one-half of Washington’s 90 hospitals are part of public hospital districts, including Public Hospital District No. 1, Clallam County. 

To learn more, visit: https://www.awphd.org

02. What does FCH use the levy for?

The levy or ‘tax’ received from property owners in the District are used for a range of items. From capital for equipment purchases, including critical facility components and infrastructure, to supplement the costs of physician and clinical staff recruitment, to investing in technologies like electric medical records, every cent of every dollar is used responsibly and for the benefit of community.

03. What can voters expect to see on the ballot for an increase in the levy?

All the details related to the Proposed Ballot, titled, “Levy Lid Lift for Health Care Services” can be found on the Clallam County website:  Elections & Voter Registration | Clallam County, WA (clallamcountywa.gov)

Below are the contents of the proposition.

Proposition No. 1

Clallam County Hospital District No. 1

Levy Lid Lift for Health Care Services

The Commission of Public Hospital District No. 1, Clallam County, Washington (Forks Community Hospital) adopted Resolution No. 2023-579 concerning the district’s regular property tax levy. If approved, this proposition would provide additional operating and capital funds for hospital and other health care services including purchasing medical equipment and supporting additional staffing and recruitment. It authorizes a maximum regular property levy rate for collection in 2025 of 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The 2025 levy amount will be used for the purpose of computing the limitations for levies in subsequent years.

Should this proposition be approved?

Approved

Rejected

Community Voices Matter

Committee “For” Letters

The following letter was submitted to Clallam County Officials on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 from the “Committee For.”

Forks Community Hospital (FCH) is grateful to the voters of the District who have continued to support the hospital and its clinics. While our Regular Levy currently provides over $350,000 per year in vital funding to an operating budget of over $40 million, the time has come to secure the future of our local hospital. 

The last time the Hospital asked the voters for new support was 2006; however, our operating and infrastructure expenses have grown over 17 years. Supporting the levy will provide crucial capital equipment that advance quality and improve patient outcomes, fund necessary staffing, and continue to recruit high-quality physicians to our community.

We know that members of our community are facing economic challenges. Public Hospital Districts like ours are also experiencing unprecedented financial strain from conditions over which we have no control. We also understand that ensuring FCH continues providing essential health services to our community must remain a priority focus. This is why we need your support.

The impact of the increase in property tax for a homeowner with an assessed value of $300,000 would be $8.00 per month or $96.00 per year. The increase of an average of $8.00 per month will provide FCH additional funding that directly impacts quality patient care, safety, recruitment, and technologies. $8.00 to secure the future of our local healthcare is worth it.

Forks Community Hospital is a vital community asset. Please vote YES on the Levy Lid Lift for Clallam County Public Hospital District No. 1.

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Forks Community Hospital is a vital community asset. We exist to serve our community. Participation in the February 13, 2024, Special Election is critically important, and so is making an informed decision on the Levy Lid Lift for Clallam County Public Hospital District No. 1.

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