DAYTON — A community group’s effort to put a tax initiative for a public hospital on the ballot is facing a challenge.
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As reported on News Center 7 Daybreak, people have been signing petitions to get the issue added to the ballot.
They came to City Hall in Dayton on Wednesday to express why they felt building this hospital was important.
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As previously reported by News Center 7, the Clergy Community Coalition has been working to develop a new public hospital since Premier Health announced that the Good Samaritan Hospital would close.
“There are opportunities for us to balance the playing field in that, but it’s going to take compassion, it’s going to take empathy,” said Clergy Community Coalition member Reverend Rockney Carter.
One member said that they believe citizens should have the right to decide whether they want to invest in a public hospital.
“Have some compassion, have some love, have a conscience, think about the people that don’t have adequate health care,” said Bishop Richard Cox.
The city said that the group failed to include required financial disclosure documents.
City representatives believe a 10-year tax, if approved, would raise about $2 million a year and would fall short of funding a hospital.
“New construction costs are estimated at $460 million,” said Assistant Dayton City Manager Joe Parlette. “Building a new hospital with public funds and management is inefficient and ineffective.”
The city commission tabled this item.
They are waiting for an opinion from the city law department on the dispute over financial forms.
News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.
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