Understanding Ballot Issue 1A

The 2021 ballot may seem daunting for some as they read each question and understand how they decide to vote.

The Julesburg Advocate met with Sedgwick County Health Center (SCHC)  Nick Goshe and Board President Rod Green to discuss Ballot Issue 1A.

The question asks, “‘Without increasing any tax rate, shall Sedgwick County’s existing 1% (one penny per dollar) sales and use tax that is currently scheduled to expire on December 31, 2021, be extended to December 31, 2065, with the revenue from such tax to be used for the following purposes:

(1) Constructing, furnishing, equipping and operating and maintaining a new Sedgwick County nursing home: and (2) Renovating, remodeling, constructing, expanding, equipping and operating and maintaining the Sedgwick County Health Center;  All in accordance with the proposal of the Board of County Commissioners adopted and set forth in Resolution No. 2021-027, and , in connection therewith, to pay any bonds or multiple-fiscal year financial obligations that may be issued for any or all of such purposes; and with the revenue from such and any investment earnings thereon to constitute a voter-approved revenue and spending change under to be collected and spent each year without limitation by the revenue and spending limits of, and without limiting the collection or spending of other revenues or funds by the county under, Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution or any other law?

A vote “Yes” would show the voter was for the measure. A “No” vote would be counted as the voter was against the measure.

In 1997, voters approved the 1% sales tax currently being collected. The time limit to collect the tax was for 28 years on a  $2 million dollar bond. The medical center has since collected an excess of the bond and is able to pay the balance of the bond off.

Since 1997, the center has been able to complete the Assisted Living Center with half of the funding coming from Jacob J and Anne B Walter’s generous donation.  With the tax funds, SCHC has been added onto the Physical Therapy, reception area, business and admin offices, medical records, two trauma bays and 2 ER rooms (of which SCHC only had one prior), the decontamination room, EMS room and Helipad..  All of these areas were built to the latest standards and special care was taken to maximize the usable space.

The continuation of the sales tax will allow the medical center to make needed improvements to all facilities, including the 60-year-old  nursing home and its aged infrastructure.

It is important to note that this question has no impact on Sedgwick County residents and businesses property tax, and would not be an increase to the sales tax, only the continuation of the sales tax that has been collected since the 1990s.

The length of the sales tax measure was set to coincide with the possibility of obtaining a USDA loan which would be for 40 years. “We can’t allow the bond to expire before the loan date. While there are no completed plans in place, it is hoped that a new nursing home could be built in the future. Before SCHC could begin construction, voters would be asked to approve designating sales tax funding for a new building.

Most Sedgwick County voters have already received their election ballots in the mail, and if not, they should contact the Clerk’s Office at 970-474-3346.

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