A community conversation Thursday offers voters a chance to engage with local leadership about an upcoming vote to extend a quarter-cent sales tax that benefits Allen County Regional Hospital. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Dr. John Silas Bass North Community Building at 505 N. Buckeye. The public is invited.
Panelists include Pat Patton, Allen County Regional Hospital administrator, John Brocker, Allen County commissioner, Dr. Chuck Wanker, physician with CHCSEK of Iola, Camille Lavon, Thrive Allen County’s economic development director, and Patti Boyd, municipal court judge. The Register’s Tim Stauffer will serve as moderator.
The conversation centers on a sales tax established in 2010 to help fund construction of the hospital on North Kentucky Street. That new facility opened its doors in 2013. Since then, funds from the tax have been used to pay for improvements to the hospital and the Medical Arts Building at 826 E. Madison Avenue, Iola.
Voters overwhelmingly approved the sales tax’s extension in Aug. 2020, voting by more than a 2:1 margin, 1,906 to 877, to prolong the sales tax another five years.
A quarter-center sales tax is estimated to raise $743,018 per year. If voters say yes this Nov. 4, the quarter-cent sales tax will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026 and last until the end of 2031.
Funds are managed by the hospital’s facilities board. Commissioner John Brocker serves as chair, a position held by Loren Korte until his death in July. Other members are Terry Sparks, Jim Gilpin, Nathan Fawson and Kim Ensminger. There are two empty seats, which are appointed by county commissioners.
The county collects all revenues from the sales tax. The hospital fund currently stands at just over $2.5 million, but board members have hinted that several big-ticket items, including work on the hospital’s roof, will soon be necessary.
Questions for the panelists can be submitted beforehand to news@iolaregister.com. See you there!
