Voters will decide Nov. 2 whether to increase a countywide sales tax by 1/4 of a cent to go toward a new Allen County Hospital.
Members of the Allen County Healthcare Committee address questions about the issue.
Q: What are Public Building Commission Bonds and why are they being proposed for the hospital project?
A: Financing a new Allen County Hospital would be the second time Allen County Commissioners have used Public Building Commission Bonds (PBCB).
The Allen County Law Enforcement Center was financed using this method, so the concept is already in place here and was key in making those improvements. And just as the revenue of the new jail has paid for the PBC bonds used with its financing, hospital revenue would provide most of the money to pay for the bonds and working capital loan to build and operate a new Allen County Hospital.
PBC Bonds may be repaid from several different sources — revenues, sales taxes or property taxes, as they are an obligation of the county and would require payment from other sources if jail or hospital revenues were not sufficient.
That is why commissioners have placed a quarter-cent sales tax on the ballot, to be sure that revenues are enough to pay back the principal and interest without requiring a change in property taxes.
If you agree with us and would like to help our voter information effort with your time or your money we can use both. We expect it to take several hundred volunteers to get the word out with only a few short weeks before the election. Volunteer names or contributions may be sent to “Yes Allen County Healthcare,” at A.C.B., Inc, 16 W. Jackson, Iola, KS 66749 or left at the Moran, Humboldt or Iola branches of Emprise Bank where we have our checking account.
Yes! Allen County Healthcare
