Voters reject hospital bond

The hospital bond vote, at 53 percent approval, was well shy of the 67 percent needed for the proposed expansion project.

In light balloting Tuesday voters turned down a $17.6 million request by the hospital district for a major expansion and renovation of the 50-year-old facility.

Unofficial returns showed 704 voters casting yes votes for the proposal, with 620 voting no. The 53.2 percent of yes votes was well short of the 67 percent needed for approval.

It was the largest bond issue proposal in Elmore County history, nearly 70 percent larger than any other bond attempt made.

Hospital Administrator Greg Maurer said the results and the turnout were both "disappointing."

"We needed more yes votes to turn out," he said, noting that the hospital board will look at the results in the near future and decide what to do from this point.

"We've got to move forward," said Maurer.

"We either didn't educate the public well enough, or the message wasn't good enough, or people just didn't see the value," he said.

The bond was designed to provide 54,000 square feet of new or renovated hospital space.

After initially attempting to eliminate the nursing home, the final plan included nursing home facilities.

The proposal would have added just under $7 per month for every $100,000 of assessed valuation to property owner's taxes.