— from Craig Abolin —
I fully support, and will vote YES for, the establishment of an Orcas Island Public Hospital District (PHD) when I receive the ballot in the mail this coming April.
In order to assure a fair distribution of the PHD taxes to the medical practices on Orcas Island, I will be paying close attention to candidates for the five-member Commission who will be in charge of setting the tax rate every year and distributing those funds to medical practices on our island paradise. I plan to vote for the Commission candidates most likely to fairly support high quality urgent and primary care for all residents and visitors to Orcas Island.
The maximum annual proposed PHD tax for a property with an assessed value of $350K is $262.50. This amount is less than my wife and I spend for trips to the mainland for doctors’ appointments every year. With a PHD, it may eventually be possible to avoid many unpleasant trips off-island for doctors’ appointments.
Because I choose to live on this island, access to health care becomes more of a concern as I age. I feel strongly that a fairly administered PHD for Orcas Island is at least as important as good schools and a Fire Department for the overall well-being of our community. Without a PHD, Orcas Island could not become the paradise it should be.
Only one district is contested, IIRC.
My wife and I wholeheartedly agree with you, Craig….. Good letter!
Responses to questions posed at the January 24 Town Hall Meeting #3 are posted on the Coalition Website at https://www.coalitionfororcashealthcare.com/copy-of-your-questions-answered
The PowerPoint presentation about finances from that meeting is posted at
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/ac5823_b9ca9be02b8b484cbc14190fd06083dd.pdf
Note: 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value is the maximum amount Commissioners can set on their own. Any levy amount over 75 cents per $1,000 in the future would require additional, separate voter approval.