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NRMC seeks funding from taxpayers, request will be on ballot in June 2010
By LeAnne Kavanagh
The Glacier County Commissioners held three public hearings last week to gauge public opinion on Northern Rockies Medical Center’s request for a “$300,000 increase in the hospital agency fund.” NRMC board members asked the commissioners to put their request on the June Primary Election ballot in 2010. The commissioners approved that request by a 2-0 vote on Thursday, Nov. 12.
Glacier County Commissioner Ron Rides At the Door said there was “minimal opposition” to the request at the three hearings. Commissioner Tony Sitzmann said only one member of the public showed up to voice their opinion on the issue. Glacier County Commission Chairman Michael DesRosier was absent from last week’s meeting due to commitments in Minnesota.
Four hospital board members, and the Cut Bank Pioneer Press editor, were the only members of the public who attended the Nov. 9 hearing in Cut Bank. Lester Johnson attended the hearing in Browning on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Only county and hospital board members attended the East Glacier hearing, which was held later that day.
The commissioners pointed out if voters approve the measure in June, the $300,000 increase would be added to their November 2010 tax statement. Voters need only to pass the request by a simple majority. The increase is not a one-time assessment, but will be added to tax bills each year. The additional tax money will be used by NRMC for maintenance, operations and equipment.
“We need the additional money to move forward,” said Rick Billman, who serves as vice-chair of the NRMC board of directors. The hospital needs funds to purchase equipment to replace the outdated and antiquated equipment in the facility and to make badly needed renovations to the facility. “That’s going to be impossible to do without the additional mill levy,” explained Billman.
Chairman Pastor Gerald Ebelt said QUORUM, the facility’s management company, projected the needs of the facility in a study done in 2000. “Their predictions have been right on schedule,” he said. The physical plant is wearing out, he stressed.
The NRMC board members said they will rely on a “community-based grass roots” effort to promote passage of the levy.
The mill levy increase, which amounts to just under 15 mills, would be assessed county-wide. Estimates of the impact on taxpayers were calculated on $100,000 and $200,000 homes, as stipulated by state law.
In Cut Bank’s School District No. 15, the annual tax increases would be approximately $20.96 and $41.90, respectively. For homes in Browning School District No. 9, the tax increase would be an estimated $19.02 and $38.04, respectively. In East Glacier School District No. 15, taxpayers can plan to pay an additional $23.33 and $46.64, respectively.
Estimating what the impact would be on your own property, whether it be residential or agricultural, is easy, said Glacier County Appraiser JoAn Printy. She suggested taking the “current year taxable value” figure on your most current tax assessment and multiplying it by the mill levy for the area of the county in which you live. Move the decimal point to the left three places before multiplying, she reminded.
The mill levies are:
•City of Cut Bank-687.41
•Town of Browning-684.74
•Rural Browning (SD# 9)-604.98
•Rural Cut Bank (SD#15)-501.69
•East Glacier (SD# 50)-558.35
•Seville Colony (SD#64)-481.88
Now figure the amount again, this time adding 15.00 mills to the mill levy listed above and then move the decimal three places to the left. Take that figure and multiply it by your “current taxable value” and the difference between the two totals is the estimated tax increase you can expect if the levy increase passes, said Printy.
Glacier County Clerk and Recorder Glenda Hall said she will now work with NRMC Chief Executive Officer Thane Bedwell and Glacier County Attorney Larry Epstein on the proper wording of the request as it should appear on the ballot.
Glacier County Commissioner Ron Rides At the Door said there was “minimal opposition” to the request at the three hearings. Commissioner Tony Sitzmann said only one member of the public showed up to voice their opinion on the issue. Glacier County Commission Chairman Michael DesRosier was absent from last week’s meeting due to commitments in Minnesota.
Four hospital board members, and the Cut Bank Pioneer Press editor, were the only members of the public who attended the Nov. 9 hearing in Cut Bank. Lester Johnson attended the hearing in Browning on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Only county and hospital board members attended the East Glacier hearing, which was held later that day.
The commissioners pointed out if voters approve the measure in June, the $300,000 increase would be added to their November 2010 tax statement. Voters need only to pass the request by a simple majority. The increase is not a one-time assessment, but will be added to tax bills each year. The additional tax money will be used by NRMC for maintenance, operations and equipment.
“We need the additional money to move forward,” said Rick Billman, who serves as vice-chair of the NRMC board of directors. The hospital needs funds to purchase equipment to replace the outdated and antiquated equipment in the facility and to make badly needed renovations to the facility. “That’s going to be impossible to do without the additional mill levy,” explained Billman.
Chairman Pastor Gerald Ebelt said QUORUM, the facility’s management company, projected the needs of the facility in a study done in 2000. “Their predictions have been right on schedule,” he said. The physical plant is wearing out, he stressed.
The NRMC board members said they will rely on a “community-based grass roots” effort to promote passage of the levy.
The mill levy increase, which amounts to just under 15 mills, would be assessed county-wide. Estimates of the impact on taxpayers were calculated on $100,000 and $200,000 homes, as stipulated by state law.
In Cut Bank’s School District No. 15, the annual tax increases would be approximately $20.96 and $41.90, respectively. For homes in Browning School District No. 9, the tax increase would be an estimated $19.02 and $38.04, respectively. In East Glacier School District No. 15, taxpayers can plan to pay an additional $23.33 and $46.64, respectively.
Estimating what the impact would be on your own property, whether it be residential or agricultural, is easy, said Glacier County Appraiser JoAn Printy. She suggested taking the “current year taxable value” figure on your most current tax assessment and multiplying it by the mill levy for the area of the county in which you live. Move the decimal point to the left three places before multiplying, she reminded.
The mill levies are:
•City of Cut Bank-687.41
•Town of Browning-684.74
•Rural Browning (SD# 9)-604.98
•Rural Cut Bank (SD#15)-501.69
•East Glacier (SD# 50)-558.35
•Seville Colony (SD#64)-481.88
Now figure the amount again, this time adding 15.00 mills to the mill levy listed above and then move the decimal three places to the left. Take that figure and multiply it by your “current taxable value” and the difference between the two totals is the estimated tax increase you can expect if the levy increase passes, said Printy.
Glacier County Clerk and Recorder Glenda Hall said she will now work with NRMC Chief Executive Officer Thane Bedwell and Glacier County Attorney Larry Epstein on the proper wording of the request as it should appear on the ballot.
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