Antelope Valley Healthcare District, California, Measure H, Bond Issue (November 2018)
| Measure H: Antelope Valley Healthcare District Bond Issue |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 6, 2018 |
| Status: |
 DefeatedMajority required: 66.67% |
| Topic: |
| Local bond issues |
| Related articles |
| Local bond issues on the ballot November 6, 2018 ballot measures in California Los Angeles County, California ballot measures District bonds on the ballot |
| See also |
A bond issue was on the ballot for Antelope Valley Healthcare District voters in Los Angeles County, California, on November 6, 2018. It was defeated.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of authorizing the district to issue up to $350 million in bonds at an estimated tax rate of $28.27 per $100,000 of assessed property value to fund repairs to the existing hospital or construction of a new hospital and improvements to patient care. |
| A no vote was a vote against authorizing the district to issue up to $350 million in bonds at an estimated tax rate of $28.27 per $100,000 of assessed property value to fund repairs to the existing hospital or construction of a new hospital and improvements to patient care. |
Election results
|
Los Angeles County Measure H |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 63,287 | 64.89% | ||
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34,239 | 35.11% | ||
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- Results are officially certified.
- Source
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question was as follows:[1]
| “ |
Shall Antelope Valley Healthcare District issue 30-Year General Obligation Bonds, not to exceed $350 million, to improve patient care, increase patient capacity, reduce Emergency Room wait times, and ensure the hospital meets California’s 2030 seismic earthquake safety standards by upgrading the existing hospital or building a new state-of-the-art hospital, at rates described in the Voter Guide, requiring independent audits and online transparency to ensure proper use of funds and protect taxpayers, be authorized?[2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the Los Angeles County Counsel:
| “ |
Approval of Measure H (“Measure”) would authorize the Board of Directors (“Board”) of the Antelope Valley Healthcare District (“District”), which placed the Measure on the ballot by Resolution No. 072518A.1, to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $350 million. Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by the Measure shall be used only for the purposes specified in the Measure for the Antelope Valley Hospital Project (“Project”), including, but not limited to, leasing or acquiring land and/or constructing, furnishing, equipping, modernizing, and improving energy efficiency for a new hospital that meets seismic, fire, and accessibility requirements. As required by law, tax proceeds shall be deposited in a special account, and an annual written report shall be made to the Board, showing the amount of funds collected and expended and the status of projects authorized to be funded by bond proceeds. The Project includes fiscal accountability measures and independent citizens’ oversight. Bonds shall be issued under Government Code section 43600 et seq., Government Code section 53506 et seq., and/or any other legal provision. Bonds are expected to be issued in three series, beginning in 2019. The estimated cost of the Project is $350 million. The principal amount of the bonds shall not exceed the estimated cost of the Project. Estimated costs of the Project include legal or other fees, and other costs and expenses, incidental to, or connected with, the authorization, issuance, and sale of the bonds. According to the District’s Tax Rate Statement, the best estimate of the average annual tax rate required to fund the bonds, based on assessed valuations available when the District filed the statement, is $28.27 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. The best estimate of the highest tax rate required to fund the bonds, based on assessed valuations available when the District filed the statement, is $30 per $100,000 of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2021-22. The final fiscal year the tax is estimated to be collected is 2050-51. The estimated total debt service required to be repaid if all bonds are issued and sold is $525 million, including principal and interest. Estimated tax rates are based on the assessed value of taxable property on official tax rolls, not on a property’s market value. Properties of taxpayers eligible for a property tax exemption, such as the homeowner’s exemption, will be taxed at a lower effective tax rate. This Measure requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote for passage.[2] |
” |
| —Los Angeles County Counsel[3] | ||
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[3]
- Pramod Kadambi, M.D., AVH chief of staff
- Ferdinand Panoussi, D.O., medical director, hospitalist
- Aya Smith, RN, AVH chief nursing officer
- Pavel Petrik, M.D., AVH trauma medical director
- Mark Brown, M.D., AVH emergency department chairman
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[3]
| “ |
When you’re injured or sick, the last thing you want to do is wait in line to see a doctor. Antelope Valley Hospital has an overworked and overcrowded Emergency Room. With patients waiting in the hallways of the Emergency Room, we must increase our available beds in the hospital, and expand our capacity in the Emergency Room. That’s why we need to pass Measure H. Do you believe that we need to make improvements to Antelope Valley Hospital to modernize the technology and facilities so that patients can receive the best possible care? If so, Vote Yes on Measure H. Do you trust local doctors, nurses and first responders who work at Antelope Valley Hospital and provide lifesaving care 24/7/365? If so, Vote Yes on Measure H. Measure H is simple and does two things: it allows hospital officials to invest $350 million to reduce Emergency Room wait times, increase patient capacity and improve patient care. As the only trauma center within 50 miles, these improvements are critical to provide the life-saving hospital facilities needed to ensure cutting-edge medical care. Measure H protects taxpayers by requiring financial audits and online transparency. Every dollar spent is used to reduce Emergency Room wait times and improve the hospital. Any costs above $350 million would be paid for privately at no cost to taxpayers. Antelope Valley leaders including doctors, nurses, small business owners and non-profit representatives all say Vote Yes on Measure H. There is no organized opposition because it will protect you and your family’s right to quality medical care.[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[3]
- Michael P. Rives
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[3]
| “ |
In November, 2017, Antelope Valley Healthcare District voters approved Measure H which allowed the Healthcare District to lease Antelope Valley Hospital to a nonprofit corporation. All assets were to be transferred to the new corporation except 126 Million in bond debt which would remain with the Healthcare District. The new corporation would pay the Healthcare District to pay interest on the bonds. Now, the A.V. Healthcare District is asking these same voters to approve a general obligation bond for 350 million dollars to be paid by property owners at $25 per $100,000 assessed value of their property. First of all, property owners may not be able to afford this new tax. In 2012, voters approved a general obligation bond for the Lancaster School District and in 2016 voters approved a 350 million dollar bond measure for the A.V. College District. Both of these bonds are financed by property owners whose assessed values of their properties and resulting taxes are going up, too. Secondly, the Healthcare District is advocating building a new hospital with retrofitting of some of the other buildings on campus. This analysis was done after a presentation by one firm that presented options to the Healthcare District and new Hospital Corporation. Additional analysis is needed to see if there are other options to this scenario. Also, what does the public think of any future plans? A prior CEO reached out to the federal department of Housing and Urban Department and was in the process of reaching out to the Veterans Administration for assistance before he departed. Why can’t these agencies be approached again before the property owners are asked to pay new taxes? This measure is too costly and all of the options have not been considered before the voters are asked to contribute their tax dollars. It should be defeated and reconsidered some other time.[2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of Antelope Valley Healthcare District, California.
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ County of Los Angeles, "Current and Upcoming Elections," accessed September 30, 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Voter's Edge, "Measure H," accessed October 5, 2018
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