Another step in helping the Hiawatha Community Hospital with its financial crisis was taken Monday when a joint committee voted to recommend to local governments an approval for a half-cent county wide sales tax and pursue a bond issue for $2 million.
The joint committee was formed in January and made up of representatives of Hiawatha, Horton and Brown County Commissions, along with a representative of the HCH Board of Trustees. The vote to take this step in helping the hospital with its financial issues came after discussion pertaining to recommendations made by the committee to the hospital board. The committee had made several recommendations at a previous meeting that included specifics about the financial needs of the hospital, along with details about financing a bond through a half cent countywide sales over a 10-year period – which would require a special vote of the county’s registered voters.
(Read more: Hiawatha World Online)