Kiowa County voters to decide on sales tax increase to help Elkview General Hospital

Kiowa County voters will decide February 13 on a 1 and 1/2 cent countywide sales tax to help fund Elkview General Hospital in Hobart. If approved, the total sales tax rate in Snyder would be 11.5% including the existing state, city and county sales taxes. Mountain Park and Roosevelt would increase to 10.5%.

Elkview is one of only two hospitals in Oklahoma of like-size and like-structure that do not receive any sales tax support from its service area. A 1.5% sales tax influx is estimated to generate about $1.2 million per year.

The election will be a one-ballot yes or no question and will require a 50 percent plus 1 approval to pass. If passed it will be in effect for 25 years, expiring on June 30, 2049.

According to Elkview CEO Lisa Hart, there are 37 hospitals in Oklahoma and 25 have sales tax support. The remainder are in more populated areas where funding is not such a critical issue. She said factors producing the situation for Elkview are decreased population of the county, the rising cost of providing medical care and powerful health insurers such as Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross, Humana and especially so-called Medicare Advantage plans. These companies harshly dictate rates of pay for hospitals. Medicare Advantage plans pay only 25 percent of most hospital bills, and she said many hospitals which can afford it are declaring themselves out of network for the plans.

With 100 employees, Elkview is believed to be the largest employer in Kiowa County. A 2020 study said Elkview has a $16.9 million impact on Kiowa County. That includes payroll, spouses of employees who work elsewhere, the nursing home, assisted living, pharmacies and other healthcare related businesses that wouldn’t be in Hobart without the hospital.

Voters can cast ballots EARLY from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Kiowa County Election Board, 215 N. Lincoln in Hobart, on Thursday, February 8 or Friday, February 9, OR on ELECTION DAY from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 13 at your designated polling location.

Polling Locations: Snyder/Mt. Park Walker Hall 918 E Street

Roosevelt Senior Citizens 401 S. Main