Coronado City Council Approves First Part of Planned $10 Million Bailout for Sharp Coronado Hospital

As part of its $35.9 million city budget for fiscal year 2004-2005, the Coronado City Council last week unanimously approved a $500,000 increase in funding to Sharp Coronado Hospital, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The city provides funds to the hospital as part of a 10-year community fund-raising effort intended to "bail out" Sharp Coronado, according to the Union-Tribune. Mayor Tom Smisek said city officials are considering strategies to use redevelopment funds to raise as much as $10 million for the hospital across 10 years. Smisek said that city officials also would meet with hospital staffers throughout the year to discuss the fundraising effort (Santana, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/23).