In the upcoming May election, certain voters in Cascade will have to decide on a measure that would help fund a new medical facility.
The Cascade Medical Center Hospital District Board of Trustees hopes voters will approve $19 million in general obligation bonds over the next 30 years. Only people living within the hospital taxing district will vote.
If the medical center uses the $19 million bond in its entirety, the property owner impact would be $68 for each $100,000 in taxable property value.
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“Asking taxpayers to help fund the expansion is not a decision we take lightly. But it is our responsibility as an appointed and elected Health District Board of Trustees to do what we feel is in the best interest of the health and wellness of our community. Assuring access to current and added health services locally, in our hometown, is an outcome worthy of additional investment,” Jacque Zemlicka, Trustee and Chairperson of the Finance Committee, said.
The current Cascade Medical Center sits at 402 Lake Cascade Pkwy. It offers walk-in acute care, primary care, 24-hour emergency services, lab services, radiology, physical therapy, and mental health services. The expansion would allow for more help in those areas along with providing new services such as cardiology, foot care, eye care, dermatology, advanced imaging, minor surgeries, and digestive health.
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The hospital estimates the bond would cover about half of the project expenses and reserve funds, grants, and loans would cover the rest.
Cascade Medical Center hired Wipfli, an independent healthcare consulting firm, in 2020 to “assess the feasibility of expansion.” That study, along with a community survey, found that to meet current and future demands for 5 to 20 years, a hospital three times the size of the current building would be necessary.
“Our staff has done a tremendous job of providing an outstanding level of care within the confines of our current facility,” Tom Reinhardt, CEO of Cascade Medical Center said. “We need a medical center that can sustain our commitment to providing independent, quality healthcare close to home, now and for generations to come.”
The board is preparing to acquire property for the new center north of Cascade on the west side of Highway 55 between the ITD road facility and the Catholic Church.
If the bond is approved in May, the new medical center could open as soon as 2025.
