Assets Belonging to Former Hospital Group Questioned

The Fallbrook Healthcare District has leased its hospital to a for-profit private operator since 1998, but the district still is collecting up to $1.5 million annually in property taxes to run the hospital. The district's total income is approaching $9 million, which district officials say is necessary in case the private operator opts out of the arrangement to run the hospital. Taxpayer advocates and not-for-profit executives say the district is improperly accumulating public assets.

• "Former Hospital Agency Builds Healthy Reserve" (McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8/27).