Voters will decide Nov. 2 whether to increase a countywide sales tax by 1⁄4 of a cent to go toward a new Allen County Hospital.
Members of the Allen County Healthcare Committee address questions about the issue.
Q: Who has been paying for all the brochures, ads, banners, yard signs, etc. in support of the voter information effort?
A: More than 75 individuals and businesses from all over the county as of Oct. 18 have contributed to the voter education effort on behalf of the new hospital campaign. And it’s not too late if anyone wants to help us financially. We still need more contributions to make our budget of about $10,500 in voter education materials and advertising. And volunteers are welcome, too. We are still delivering brochures door-to-door in towns in the county to save the expense of postage.
Contributions from $5 to $1,000 have been sent in; any amount is welcome and will be appreciated. Those contributing $5 or more will be recognized on a list by name (and not amount) featured at our Thank You event on election night in the courthouse meeting room.
Financial contributors are invited to attend the Thank You event along with all other volunteers who have helped with our voter education effort. It starts at 7 p.m. and all attending will be asked to autograph the back of a “Yes” Allen County Healthcare banner. We hope to include the banner in a time capsule event that is being planned for 2012 when the hospital celebrates 60 years and opens the time capsule created 30 years ago after the 1982 remodeling.
Any funds left after all the expenses are paid for the voter education effort will be contributed to the Allen County Healthcare Foundation, our county’s not-for-profit entity that will be closely linked to the new hospital if the bond issue passes and we, again, have a local not-for-profit county hospital.
In case you are interested in what the voter education has been doing with the money, our “Yes” Allen County Healthcare budget includes brochure printing, tabloid printing, postage for brochure delivery in rural areas, radio ads, newspaper ads in Iola and in Humboldt, cable television advertising, yard signs, banners, balloons, wrist bands and the cost to purchase a list of registered voters. All donors and expenses will be reported to the county clerk.
As you know public funds cannot be used for advocating that voters cast their ballot in a certain way so all of the money has come from individuals and businesses. Donations may be made to “Yes” Allen County Healthcare and left at any Emprise Bank in Humboldt, Iola or Moran, where we have our account, or mailed to our office address at 16 W. Jackson, Iola, KS 66749. Please send a check if you can, but if not, at least vote “Yes” for Allen County Healthcare.
Yes! Allen County Healthcare
