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Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008

Deadline nears for hospital bond vote

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Ballot fatigue doesn't seem to be keeping Oak Valley Hospital District voters away from the mail-in election on Measure Q.

The $27 million hospital bond measure will be eastern Stanislaus County voters' fourth election of the year, but participation is relatively high. At noon Friday, the Stanislaus County elections office had received 7,750 ballots for Measure Q, said County Clerk Lee Lundrigan.

That's about 18 percent more than the number of voters who weighed in on an identical measure in April. That effort, Measure O, failed by less than 1 percent.

The deadline to return ballots is 8 p.m. Tuesday. Mailed ballots must be received by the election office by that deadline or voters can hand deliver votes to drop-off locations in Waterford, Oakdale and Modesto.

Measure Q would raise $27 million toward replacing 35-year-old Oak Valley Hospital.

Supporters say a new hospital would reduce emergency room waits and attract better doctors to the area.

The bond would add $12.13 per $100,000 of assessed value to property tax bills for 30 years. Homeowners are paying for a $37 million hospital bond approved in 2004.

Asking taxpayers for too much?

Opponents say the hospital is asking for too much from taxpayers. Among them is former Oakdale Mayor Elmo Garcia, who says he doesn't buy the hospital's argument that it needs another bond to cover skyrocketing construction costs.

"You take a senior like myself, I only get $1,200 a month," Garcia, 73, said. "That doesn't go very far anymore. We're pretty well taxed out."

The measure requires approval by 66.7 percent of voters. In July, John Friel, chief executive officer of the hospital, drew criticism after his remarks were construed as encouraging anti-tax Republicans not to vote on Measure Q. Friel apologized, but the comments stirred the ire of voters and letter-to-the-editor writers.

Yes on Measure Q chairwoman Mickey Peabody put the controversy in a positive light. She said the incident brought more attention to the measure. "I think the upside to that is that it certainly had people discussing the issue."

This round of campaigning used far more volunteers -- about 60 or 70 -- than the bond measure the hospital attempted in April, Peabody said. Those volunteers walked door-to-door to explain the issue to voters. The campaign also used local phone banks instead of contracting the work to out-of-state phone banks, a move that added a personal touch with voters, she said.

"It will pass," Peabody said. "Gentlemen, start your backhoes."

And if that doesn't happen?

Hospital spokeswoman Susan Mendieta said she couldn't speculate on what the hospital will do if the bond fails again.

Bee staff writer Leslie Albrecht can be reached at lalbrecht@modbee.com or 578-2378.