The Brown County Commission has denied a Sabetha Community Hospital request for a share of any sales tax revenue generated for healthcare in Brown County.
Three weeks ago, on March 11, the Brown County commissioners approved Resolution 19-07 — calling the question for a 10-year, 1/2 percent sales tax question to support healthcare services in Brown County — to an election on May 21. At that time, the stated use for the generated funds would be to first pay industrial revenue bonds obtained through the City of Hiawatha for $2 million, then subsequently be directed to Hiawatha Community Hospital as general tax support for the hospital. If approved, the sales tax would be implemented on Oct. 1.
This decision by the county commissioners came after months of meetings of a joint advisory committee that included officials from the Hiawatha hospital, as well as Brown County and the cities of Hiawatha and Horton. The committee, which did not include any City of Sabetha or Sabetha Community Hospital representatives, was formed after the urgent situation at Hiawatha’s hospital was brought to light.
(Read more: Sabetha Herald)