Alameda Voters Approve Tax Measure to Help ‘Troubled’ City Hospital
Alameda voters yesterday approved a ballot measure that will impose a parcel tax to help "bail out" the "troubled" Alameda Hospital, the city's only emergency care facility, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Voters passed the measure, which required a two-thirds vote for approval, 68.6% to 31.4%. According to the Chronicle, the measure will raise about $6 million, providing a "major revenue source" for the 80-bed Alameda Hospital. In addition, the measure will establish an elected health care district to determine hospital policies and procedures (McCabe/DelVecchio, San Francisco Chronicle, 4/10). Hospital officials last October warned that the facility could close without approval of the ballot measure. Alameda Hospital CEO David O'Neill said that the hospital had posted budget deficits for the past three years and added that he expected a shortfall this year (California Healthline, 10/18/01).
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