Ballot Initiative Would Create New Tax to Support Alameda Hospital

Financially ailing Alameda Hospital could be forced to close if voters do not approve a ballot initiative asking local taxpayers to partly subsidize the facility, the Alameda Times-Star reports. The initiative would ask voters to approve a tax on local property owners of $80 per $100,000 property value. The tax is expected to raise an estimated $10 million per year for the hospital. Supporters of the hospital are currently circulating a petition to have the measure put on the ballot for a special election April 9. To do so, they must collect 5,000 registered voters' signatures by Oct. 24. Alameda hospital has been running deficits for three years and expects another deficit next year, CEO David O'Neil said. He added, "Certainly, without assistance, by late 2002, we'll be in significant difficulty financially" (Katz, Alameda Times-Star, 10/16).