The first town hall meeting to inform voters about the proposed sales tax changes for South Central Kansas Medical Center was met with a small turnout on Thursday night at the Ark City Senior Center.
Fewer than 30 people gathered to listen to a presentation by Mayor Dan Jurkovich, more than half of the attendees were commissioners and medical center employees.
Jurkovich narrated a short slideshow presentation illustrating problems the hospital faces in meeting its construction debt.
He then discussed other suggested options, including closing the hospital down or selling it, which he said are not viable options because the city would still be saddled with the debt.
Voters will be asked to approve a one-cent sales tax — with no expiration date — through a mail-in ballot with a Sept. 6 deadline.
The campaign to educate voters has begun, with more town halls scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursdays.
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