Pullman Residents to Vote on Hospital’s $29 Million Expansion Bond

PULLMAN – The fate of Pullman Regional Hospital’s expansion bond now lies in the hands of Pullman residents. If passed, the bond will increase property taxes to fund a new $40 million hospital expansion.

Ballots were sent out to residents on April 5th asking them to consider a tax increase to fund a new 45,000 square foot community healthcare pavilion for “One-Stop Care,” a community-wide electronic medical record system, a redesign of the current hospital space, and updated medical equipment.  

Pullman Regional Hospital’s Next Era of Excellence will be paid for by the residents of the hospital district over 25 years. Approximately $11 million of the $40 million will be raised through philanthropy and hospital funds; leaving $29 million to be paid through the bond’s proposed tax levy.

In February, the Pullman Regional Hospital Board of Commissioners approved the ballot measure that calls for a proposed tax increase that is estimated to be about $.99 per $1,000 of assessed property value for Pullman residents. At their last Board of Commissioners meeting, the board listened to questions from the public about the bond.

Scott Adams, the Chief Executive Officer of Pullman Regional Hospital, stressed that The Next Era of Excellence will greatly benefit students at Washington State University by making it easier for students to have their medical information both in Pullman as well as back home thanks to a community-wide medical record system that will be installed. The system will connect medical offices and hospitals in Washington State to Pullman Regional’s records.

“Students especially and their families know that they’ve got access to that information here in Pullman as well as back home where their child or family care has been provided,” Adams said.

Tricia Grantham, the President of the hospital’s Board of Commissioners, said she was particularly happy about informing the public on the hospital’s goals and about the hospital itself by hosting more than 30 community presentations about the bond with Adams.

“Some people did not realize we were a public hospital so the education, you know, that has occurred as a result of this has been great,” Grantham said.

Now that ballots have been mailed out, Pullman residents have until April 23rd to send in their decision on whether or not they want the bond to pass. The special election for Pullman Regional Hospital’s bond in Whitman County is set for April 23rd.