San Mateo County Official Calls for State Audit of Local Health Care Districts

San Mateo County Manager John Maltbie has asked the state to audit the approximately 88 local health care districts statewide that receive tax revenue to operate hospitals, the San Mateo County Times reports. San Mateo County officials say that some health care districts are no longer necessary because they do not operate hospitals. According to the Times, about 35 local health care districts, including the Sequoia and Peninsula districts in San Mateo County, continue to receive revenue from local property taxes, although their hospitals have been sold. County officials intend the audit to serve as an impetus to alter the state law that created the hospital districts; some county officials say that funding collected by the hospital districts could be better used to offset counties' public health costs (San Mateo County Times, 7/21).