Ballot Measure To Fund Hospital Affecting Board Election for Palomar Pomerado Health District
The San Diego Union-Tribune on Thursday examined how Proposition BB, a $496 million district bond measure that would fund construction of a new Palomar Medical Center, is "overshadow[ing]" the Palomar Pomerado Health district board election (Berhman, San Diego Union Tribune, 10/14).
If approved, Proposition BB would be funded by property tax increases. The funds would be used to build a new medical center, downsize the existing facilities to a psychiatric and rehabilitation center, double the size of Pomerado Hospital and create community centers throughout the area (California Healthline, 9/10).
In the board election, seven candidates are running for four seats. Five candidates, including three incumbents, are seeking three four-year terms. Two candidates, including an appointed incumbent, are seeking one two-year term.
According to the Union-Tribune, if the bond measure passes, the board "will have its work cut out for it" overseeing the hospital's expansion and a renovation of the district's facilities, which are estimated to cost about $753 million. If the measure does not pass, the board "will have to decide what the sprawling district's next move will be," according to the Union-Tribune (San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/14).
In related news, PPH CEO Michael Covert on Thursday said that the board would amend expansion plans at a meeting Monday to specify that if Proposition BB is approved, a new flagship hospital would be built in Escondido, the Union-Tribune reports. "We want to remain in Escondido," Covert said.
The announcement comes after some Escondido leaders in recent weeks asked why they should support Proposition BB if officials did not pledge to locate a new flagship facility in the city (Gustafson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/15).