Support of capital facilities tax for West Park doesn't make senseWord that the Powell Hospital District Board of Trustees would not back West Park Hospital's bid to get a $14.2 million capital facilities tax on the ballot this fall came as no surprise.While county-wide capital facilities taxes have proven their value over the years in raising large sums of money in a relatively short period of time — with tourists footing around 30 percent of the bill — this proposed tax doesn't make sense for many county residents.The new Park County jail was built with capital facilities tax funding, and the tax that recently expired paid for renovations to the Cody branch of the Park County Library and the Meeteetse swimming pool, as well as the majority of the new Powell Family Aquatic Center. The jail project tax and the most recent tax for the library and swimming pools were both clearly for the benefit of each of Park County's three municipalities. History has proven that capital facilities tax proposals are successful if there's something in it for everyone. West Park's request for a $14.2 million tax — down from $31.5 million not long ago — doesn't pass that litmus test.Thus, it's not a shock that Powell Valley Healthcare board members didn't support the request.The Powell hospital's master facilities plan, similarly to West Park's, calls for expansion and renovation of existing facilities. However, CEO Rod Barton has said, “Our board had never considered the cap tax. Part of the challenge for us would be convincing Cody voters to vote for a Powell project.” With both hospitals in need of upgrades, the logical solution is to allow residents of the respective hospital districts to vote on bonds to fund the hospitals' individual projects. That's part of the reason hospital districts exist. West Park officials have expressed disappointment in the Powell board's decision, but they're not being honest with themselves. The board's decision, rather than an affront to West Park, was a matter of simple common sense.

Support of capital facilities tax for West Park doesn't make sense

Word that the Powell Hospital District Board of Trustees would not back West Park Hospital's bid to get a $14.2 million capital facilities tax on the ballot this fall came as no surprise.

While county-wide capital facilities taxes have proven their value over the years in raising large sums of money in a relatively short period of time — with tourists footing around 30 percent of the bill — this proposed tax doesn't make sense for many county residents.

The new Park County jail was built with capital facilities tax funding, and the tax that recently expired paid for renovations to the Cody branch of the Park County Library and the Meeteetse swimming pool, as well as the majority of the new Powell Family Aquatic Center.

The jail project tax and the most recent tax for the library and swimming pools were both clearly for the benefit of each of Park County's three municipalities. History has proven that capital facilities tax proposals are successful if there's something in it for everyone.

West Park's request for a $14.2 million tax — down from $31.5 million not long ago — doesn't pass that litmus test.

Thus, it's not a shock that Powell Valley Healthcare board members didn't support the request.

The Powell hospital's master facilities plan, similarly to West Park's, calls for expansion and renovation of existing facilities. However, CEO Rod Barton has said, “Our board had never considered the cap tax. Part of the challenge for us would be convincing Cody voters to vote for a Powell project.”

With both hospitals in need of upgrades, the logical solution is to allow residents of the respective hospital districts to vote on bonds to fund the hospitals' individual projects. That's part of the reason hospital districts exist.

West Park officials have expressed disappointment in the Powell board's decision, but they're not being honest with themselves. The board's decision, rather than an affront to West Park, was a matter of simple common sense.