League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
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Proposition T Hospital Construction, Improvement and Emergency Care Facilities Bond Tri-City Healthcare District 2/3 Approval Required
See Also:
Index of all Propositions |
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Fail:
51330 /
64.79% Yes votes ......
27896 /
35.21% No votes
| Results as of Jan 4 9:40am |
| Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement | | ||||
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In order to enhance patient care and safety; accommodate advances in medical technology; improve outpatient care; provide for a growing and aging community; meet statemandated earthquake standards; and reduce emergency room overcrowding, shall Tri-City Healthcare District issue $596,000,000 of bonds to construct, repair and improve Tri-City Medical Center, with annual audits, an independent, comprehensive citizens’ oversight committee, and no money for administrators’ salaries?
The issuance and sale of general obligation bonds is for the purpose of raising money for the District and represents a debt of the District. In exchange for the money received from the holder of the bond, the District promises to pay the holder a set amount of interest for a certain period of time, and to repay the loan on the expiration date. The proceeds of these bonds of the District would be used to provide financing or refinancing for hospital and health care facilities projects consisting of the improvement of real property for hospital and health care purposes, including construction, repairs, renovations and improvements to the Tri-City Medical Center campus. The interest rate on any bond, which is established at the time of bond issuance, may not exceed twelve percent (12%) per annum. The final maturity date of any bond may be no later than forty (40) years after the date of the bond The dates of sale and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the District based upon need for construction funds and other factors. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold will depend on the bond market at the time of each sale, which in any event may not exceed the legal limit then in effect. The proposition incorporates the bond accountability requirements of state law as well as establishment of an independent citizen’s oversight committee. Principal and interest on the bonds would be paid by revenue derived from an annual tax levied upon the taxable property within the District in an amount sufficient to pay the interest as it becomes due and to provide a sinking fund for payment of the principal on or before maturity. Article XIII A of the California Constitution exempts from the one percent property tax rate limitation ad valorem taxes to pay the interest and redemption charges on any bonded indebtedness for the acquisition or improvement of real property approved by the voters on or after July 1, 1978. The approval must be by two-thirds of the votes cast by the voters voting on the proposition. Legal authorization is contained in state law permitting health care districts to issue bonds at the interest rate, for the period of time, and for the specified purposes, subject to two-thirds voter approval. A “YES” vote is a vote in favor of authorizing Tri-City Health Care District to issue $596,000,000 in general obligation bonds for the purposes stated in the proposition. A “NO” vote is a vote against authorizing Tri-City Health Care District to issue $596,000,000 in general obligation bonds for the purposes stated in the proposition.
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Official Information News and Analysis San Diego Union Tribune
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| Arguments For Proposition T | Arguments Against Proposition T | ||
| When you have any kind of medical emergency, time is of the essence. Residents in
Oceanside, Carlsbad and Vista have access to some of the nation’s best 9-1-1 emergency
response systems. Stabilizing patients at the scene of an emergency is one thing. Close access
to their local community hospital --- now and in the future --- is another. That’s why the Tri-City
Healthcare District Board placed Proposition T on the Ballot.
Forty-five years ago, Tri-City Medical Center was established to provide this community with a modern medical facility to meet the healthcare needs of a growing community. Nearly a half century later, the needs are the same. Prop T would rebuild Tri-City Medical Center to enhance patient care and safety; provide for a growing aging population, including “baby boomers”; accommodate advances in medical technology; retain and recruit top medical professionals; reduce emergency room overcrowding; and meet unfunded, state-mandated earthquake standards. YES on T ensures this by constructing a 335-bed critical/acute care facility; upgrading and renovating one-third of the current hospital, including the Emergency Department, Surgical Services; the Behavioral Health building and the Pavilion Tower; and constructing a new Outpatient Services Building to improve care for both inpatients and outpatients. San Diego County Taxpayers’ Association endorses this measure that includes local resident involvement in future planning, strict fiscal accountability through audits, an Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee and NO money for administrators’ salaries. Your Vote Counts. In the June election, nearly 66% of local voters supported a similar measure; less than 1% short of passing. This plan has been improved by incorporating extensive public feedback in this Measure. Join patients, seniors, 9-1-1 responders, community leaders, doctors and nurses to improve your access to quality healthcare. Vote YES on T – Tri-City Construction, Improvement and Emergency Care Facilities Bond.
TINA J. KNIGHT
JULIANNE NYGAARD
ANGELA M. PEREZ, RN
KEN R. IWAOKA, M.D.
JIM BAUMANN
While the new Proposition T includes more discussion of the hospital master facilities plan, Proposition T makes no commitment to any of these facilities that cannot be changed or broken by the hospital board. Essentially, the hospital board can do what it wants with the bond money, as long as it follows a few procedures such as hold a few meetings. They may not be able to spend the money on administrative salaries, but there are many other ways they can spend the money that is not spelled out in Proposition T. California and surrounding municipalities will introduce BILLIONS of dollars in new bonds for us to vote on this upcoming election. The overall cost of these bonds, as a whole, will reduce our standard of living, especially when a majority of the bonds could have been avoided with prudent management. A great example of missed opportunity of prudent management could be argued about Tri-City. NO ON T!
JOE BROWN, M.A. | Tri-City has recently re-introduced a bond which we the voters had previously rejected. Prior to
the introduction of the rejected bond proposal, Tri-City awarded lucrative bonuses rather than
using scarce resources toward improving our hospital and its services -- a fiduciary responsibility
owed to those who depend on those services for medical care. In so doing, the current hospital
board has failed us, and gambled the care of the many for the enrichment of the few.
Eighteen-thousand plus voters rejected this bond for many a good reason including misguiding critical resources and a gross lack of definition in the language of the previous bond proposal. Tri-City’s current proposition is laced with hot-button language unworthy of our consideration. Frightening the elderly who are already reeling from failed Medicare Part D Legislation and confusing well meaning voters who would like to believe they are supporting meaningful community health care services are not constructive. Disturbingly, the majority of the current board owes its allegiances to internal forces in Tri-City that have paid for much of the boards own campaigns. Tri-City operates at .02% margin, they should stop hiring consultants. Tri-City has hired underqualified directors and managers for key positions only to hire, at great additional expense, consultants to cover the inadequacies which result. Vote NO on Prop T
OMID KAMALI
STEPHANIE DE LA RIVA
JON SCHWAOK, JR.
MELISSA SCHOLL
JOE BROWN, M.A.
In fact ten substantive modifications were made to clarify exactly how the District will build and renovate your Hospital with Bond proceeds. Those changes spell out in detail the construction phases and timetable; the costs and contingencies; the enhanced role of an Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee (ICOC) and a detailed breakdown of the major areas of focus for this Measure. Additionally, the Measure spells out how modifications can be made through extensive and open stakeholder hearings, comprehensive review by the ICOC, and a 2/3s vote of the Board. The San Diego County Taxpayers’ Association agrees that taxpayer safeguards are included in the Measure. Even the key opponent of the previous Measure now publicly supports Proposition T! This Measure incorporates and addresses previous concerns. Real estate professionals and the Chambers of Commerce agree that your investment in Proposition T will sustain and improve your property values for years to come! Don’t buy into the opposition’s personal political agenda. Review the plan at tricitymed.org and see for yourself! It’s comprehensive and it’s solid! We ask that you Vote Yes on T.
HON. RON PACKARD
MIMI GAFFEY
TED OWEN
BATTALION CHIEF RICK FISHER (Ret)
CRISTINE CLARK |
| Tax Rate Statement |
| An election will be held in Tri-City Healthcare District (the “District”) on November 7, 2006, to
authorize the sale of up to $596,000,000 in bonds of the District to finance healthcare facilities as
described in the ballot measure. If the bonds are approved, the District expects to sell the bonds
in more than one series. Principal and interest on the bonds will be payable from the proceeds of
tax levies made upon the taxable property in the District. The following three paragraphs are
being provided in compliance with Sections 9400-9404 of the Elections Code of the State of
California.
1. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the first series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations at the time of filing of this statement, is 2.340 cents per $100 ($23.40 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2007-08. 2. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the last series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations at the time of filing of this statement, is 2.340 cents per $100 ($23.40 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2018-19.
3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund
this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations at the time of filing of this statement, is Voters should note that the estimated tax rates are based on the ASSESSED VALUE of taxable property on the County’s official tax rolls, not on the property’s market value. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills to determine their property’s assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions. Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon the District’s projections and estimates only, which are not binding upon the District. The actual tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary from those presently estimated, due to variations from these estimates in the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold and market interest rates at the time of each sale, and actual assessed valuations over the term of repayment of the bonds. The dates of sale and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the District based on need for construction funds and other factors. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold will depend on the bond market at the time of each sale, which in any event will not exceed the legal limit then in effect. Actual future assessed valuation will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined by the County Assessor in the annual assessment and equalization process. This Tax Rate Statement has been prepared by and is submitted pursuant to direction of the Board of Directors of the District. Dated: August 9, 2006.
David Tweedy, PhD |
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Created: January 4, 2007 09:40 PST
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