Time is running out for a sales tax to benefit Community Memorial Healthcare to be put on the November ballot.
The deadline for the decision is Sept. 1 and on Monday a motion by Marshall County Board of Commissioners Chairman Dave Baier for a five-year, half-cent sales tax ballot question failed without a second.
Commissioner Bob Connell said his constituents were not in favor of the ballot question.
“I had a lot of phone calls yesterday, and none of them was in favor of letting it go to a vote,” Connell said.
Commissioner Lynn Feldhausen said he was in the same boat as Connell.
“I had people call me clear up to 9:30 last night, and they said no,” Feldhausen said. “I have to go with my constituents. I have to vote with how my people contacted me and what I’m feeling out there.” After the meeting a press release was issued by CMH to announce that the sales tax ballot question had failed.
The press release said this is the third year CMH has approached the Marshall County commissioners for their permission “to take this issue of economic sustainability to the people for a vote, and the third time that permission has been denied.”
According to the press release, CMH remains one of few critical access hospitals in the state that does not receive any kind of public tax support, and also one of few that has been nationally recognized for being fiscally efficient.
(Read more: The Marysville Advocate)