Guest Opinion | Death by 1000 cuts

||| FROM BOB THOMAS |||

I am the “against” advocate. My intent has been to bring up points that may not have been covered or add to those that have and encourage islanders to investigate for themselves. Over the past three or so weeks I have attended a number of public meetings and had “one on ones”conversations in person or phone conversations with commissioners and the superintendent not to mention random conversations with islanders. Below are a few things I have learned:

RESPONSIBILITY
Rural life is inconvenient. I heard this on a recent podcast about Sam Walton starting his first store in rural Newport, Arkansas. This applies to island life. It is inconvenient. We all knew this when we moved here especially as retirees. We can’t expect to have what we left behind on the mainland……the good and the bad.

When we investigated relocating for retirement one caveat that was continually repeated was to make sure you locate near a hospital. All of us, especially older retirees, ignored or accepted the fact that medical services, along with many other services we were used to, would be limited.

WILL ISLAND HOSPITAL (IH) LEAVE?
The idea IH will leave if the Levy Lift (LL) is not passed has been referred to a number of times in meetings, discussions and comments. It has even been called a “scare tactic”.

I came to the conclusion that the answer given by Board President Salierno in the town hall meeting of 3/28 was most appropriate: If the LL does not pass IH may want to negotiate the current tentative agreement or cut the agreement duration from 10 to 5 years. In any of the other conversations and meetings I was involved with, though I asked specifically, there was no confirmation of the idea IH would pack up and leave if the LL failed.

In other discussions it has been noted the District has funds without the LL to finance 4-5 years of operations. In a one-on-one meeting I was told that funds could support the current operation for up to 9 years. If the LL fails there is still plenty of time for the District to regroup, analyze the vote and put a new LL on the ballot more amenable to the voters. It has happened on the island before and will happen again and you know what? We’re still here.

Medicare provides IH 40% of the total funding from the clinic and Medicaid provides another 15%, the balance is from private or “other” sources. Both Medicare and Medicaid currently reimburse IH at a very favorable rate, however Medicaid could tighten eligibility requirements.

IH is treated more favorably by our clinic activities than their own hospital activities. For example, a sample of my Medicare plus Medicare supplemental insurance reimbursement based on my Medicare records are:

• Orcas Island Clinic: Requested $200, Received $400; Requested $260, received$335
• Island Health Hospital: Requested $507, received $222; Requested $500, received $116
• Private Providers: Requested $400, Received $161; Requested $182, received $123

Why would IH walk away from this higher rate of reimbursement? I suggest you check your own Medicare/Medicaid records to verify.

INFLATION
The District argument includes costs for inflation with which I don’t disagree. But we all must face inflation in our personal lives. Without the LL the District can continue up to another 9 years with the current level of service. The District will not be able to initiate new projects. Just as we islanders have had to tighten our belts, I would think the District would stick with what works now and not add new costly programs and capital projects that not only have implemental costs but also future liabilities.

• For a $500,000 house the Levy will increase from $207 to $350.
• For a $1,000,000 house the Levy will increase from $415 to $700.
• For a $2,000,000 house the Levy will increase from $830 to $1400.

DEATH BY A 1000 CUTS

• PEA PATCH: 20 Affordable townhouse rentals; new giant Food Bank building and a new giant Resource Center office. Cost $ 48 million. 50% from public sources; 30% individuals; 20% from grants and reserves. I’m not sure of what the $24 million funding from public sources consists, some new taxes?
• FOOD BANK: “In 2024, grants paid for all but $30,000 worth of food we distributed. This year however, with grants drying up and the cost of food going up, the Food Bank will have to pay about $375,000 for food. To keep our doors open and shelves stocked, we rely on our individual donors more than ever. Along with our 40 volunteers, our donors make it possible to carry out our mission as we work toward achieving our mission”.
  The new Food Bank in the Pea Patch plan looks similar in size to Island Market. Another good idea supported by donors but outgrowing the ability of donors? A tax agenda in the Food Bank plan?
• FIRE DISTRICT LL increased from .53 to .77 for this year. Potentially another LL later this year?
• COMMISSIONS: How many commissions, co-ops and other taxing agencies on Orcas island are all wanting to do great things? I lost count at about 15 or so. Check your property tax bill, water bill, electrical bill etc. Don’t forget those that will tax the sale on your home….hope you sell in a sellers’ market!

Big ideas, big plans, big taxes.

I plan to have more articles in the future but the “against” team is just me and my trusty editor Carla. No big bucks or staff here! May also try to make a couple of signs.

Oh, don’t forget to vote by the 22nd.