Voters will be able to vote “for” or “against” the bond, which is presented as an all-or-nothing proposal totaling $396.6 million.
EL PASO COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT BOND
Here’s how the El Paso County Hospital District (AKA University Medical Center of El Paso) $396.6 million bond proposition will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot, which will ask voters to vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” the proposition:
PROPOSITION A
“the issuance of $396,600,000 hospital district bonds for the purpose of providing funds for acquiring, constructing, equipping, renovating and/or enlarging the district’s hospital system, including (a) expansion of cancer treatment facilities, (b) improvements to the university medical center of el paso campus including expansion of treatment services for burn victims, (c) construction of, and/or improvements to, new clinical facilities in central el paso focused on older adult/geriatric care, and additional clinical, surgical, and rehabilitation facilities across the county of el paso, and (d) the acquisition of land and/or other property rights for authorized system purposes; and the levying of a tax sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds and the costs of any credit agreements executed in connection with the bonds”
What are the projects under the proposed $396.6 million UMC bond issue?
- $134.5 million for UMC El Paso main hospital: New surgical suites, cardiac catheterization, add 25 observation beds, improve imaging technology and laboratory services, increase and improve garage and surface parking
- $24.5 million for burn center and critical care beds: Create a burn center with swing beds and two operating rooms
- $207.6 million for clinics/health centers: Geriatric clinic in Central El Paso; health center in Horizon City; ambulatory surgical center and emergency/urgent care center on the Westside; specialty clinic in Central at Texas Tech El Paso; expansion of the rehabilitation services clinic on the Eastside
- $30 million for comprehensive cancer care center (in partnership with Texas Tech Health El Paso): The state of Texas contributed $65 million last legislative session toward the planned center at XXXX, and the El Paso delegation plans to request an additional $60 million next session. The total cost was anticipated to be at least $95 million, though TTH El Paso officials recently said the cost could be closer to $120 to $150 million. The money would go into the center’s “capital fund,” and could only be used for construction or equipment.
How much will this bond impact my property tax bill?
If approved, the bond would raise the UMC portion of the homeowner’s bill by about $95 a year for the first 10 years and about $52 a year for the next 20 years after that on the 2024 average value home, according to UMC. Changes in future property valuations could affect the tax impact.
What does my vote “for” or “against” mean?
- Voting “for” the proposition means UMC El Paso could borrow the funds to build the projects listed, including the principal and interest of the debt. Any remaining funds could go unspent or used for similar projects in the bond proposal.
- Voting “against” the proposition means the hospital district could not issue the debt in general obligation bonds to build the projects listed. It also prohibits the hospital from using certain debt, including certificates of obligation that don’t require voter approval but are repaid by taxpayer dollars, for at least three years on the same projects.