This community opinion was contributed by Hollister resident Catherine Booth-Vaughan. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent BenitoLink or other affiliated contributors. BenitoLink invites all community members to share their ideas and opinions. By registering as a BenitoLink user in the top right corner of our home page and agreeing to follow our Terms of Use, you can write counter opinions or share your insights on current issues. Lea este artículo en español aquí.
Look all around you. Look at our underfunded roads, our underfunded fire dept, our underfunded Sheriff Dept. (where just this year there was a jail escape because of lack of staff). Look at our local library, where this past year $500,000 of taxpayer dollars was embezzled under the oversight of the Board of Supervisors (BOS).
Measure B asks for permission to allow the BOS to appoint a JPA [Joint Powers Authority], to take over control of our #1 asset, Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital using taxpayer dollars.*
What around you in SBC makes you believe this would not be a collousal failure? Hospital Administration is outside the scope of experience for the BOS. It would be neglect to allow them to take over the day-to-day administration costing the taxpayers millions of dollars.
Do you want HHMH [Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital] to become a political football in the hands of the BOS who will appoint an inexperienced JPA? Who are these experienced people the BOS will appoint? Where have they been all these years?
Look at how ineffective County goverment is today. Look at the infighting between governments. The Grand Jury this year, stated that there is mismanagement and corruption** within our government(s).
The SBC Auditor Fiscal Impact report states that 5 million dollars in taxpayer dollars plus an additional 10 million credit line will be funded with our taxdollars, wth the ability for the JPA to go after new bonds without voter approval! (Using county assets such as buildings as leverage! )
It’s all in the Auditors Impact Statement below. Please take the time to read it. No on B. Yes on X.
Fiscal impact statement by county auditor for Measure B:
If Measure B is passed by the voters and a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) between San Benito County and San Benito County Health Care District is formed, the County proposes to contribute $5 million to the JPA for the operation of Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital and its related facilities. The County would also guarantee a $7-10 million line of credit for the first 10 years of the agreement, if needed. The County would not assume responsibility for any other debts, liabilities, and/or obligations of the JPA.
The adoption of the County’s fiscal year 2024/2025 budget included the $5 million contribution from unrestricted general fund reserves. All remaining unrestricted general fund reserves were obligated for County operations and capital expenditures.
ECG Management Consultants collaborated with the County to develop a business plan and ten-year financial forecast for the JPA. In the financial forecast, $7-10 million in capital would be generated by securing a bank line of credit supported by County-provided collateral. In using County assets as collateral for securing a bank line of credit for the JPA, the County would limit the assets available to use as collateral for future debt issuance to finance County facility and infrastructure projects.
Alternatively, a JPA can issue bonds without holding a general election. However, to acquire bond proceeds through bond issuance, the JPA or its member agencies must have assets available to use as collateral. In the business plan, the County may provide collateral such as a County-owned building to support the debt issuance.
If the Measure is successful and implemented, the $5 million contribution to the JPA would mean that the County General Fund would forego approximately $2.5 million of interest earnings (General Fund revenues) from the County Treasury over the first ten years of the agreement on that initial contribution.
If the results of the implemented business plan were to require additional large County contributions, without the generation of additional County general purpose revenues from a new or enhanced existing revenue source, any future contributions from the general fund to the JPA may require budget cuts to the general fund departments such as Sheriff and Corrections, Assessor, Information Technology, etc.
Editor’s notes: *Measure B is an advisory vote. The results are nonbinding. **The San Benito County Civil Grand Jury report states it “uncovered evidence of unethical practices, allegations of corruption and breaches of trust within the political sphere.”
The post COMMUNITY OPINION: No on Measure B appeared first on BenitoLink.