Editor:

Citizens will receive a mail ballot for the Nov. 5 election in Montezuma County. Included on the ballot are various districts including Southwest Hospital District. I encourage you to vote “yes” on Referendum 5D, which will allow the district to keep tax dollars raised from property tax instead of sending the additional taxes to the state which today is a restriction of TABOR. Voter approval for any tax increase will require voter approval of the citizens of Montezuma County. There will be several community meetings that discuss the approval for the hospital district. Please attend these meetings to be an informed voter.

Granting our hospital district the above will allow it to apply for larger grants. Grants have become difficult enough to obtain, without our district eliminated from consideration because we can’t contribute as much as other state hospital grant applicants can.

The hospital district must remain completive.

Our community demographics indicate a trend toward population aging that means increased hospital use. A vibrant hospital is a cornerstone of a healthy community offering a good quality of life. The referendum must pass if our hospital is to survive the rocky times ahead and continue to provide the quality services that Montezuma County citizens deserve, and, which businesses will require to consider locating here.

Jodi Foran

Mancos

Foran is a former board member of Southwest Health System, which operates Southwest Memorial Hospital.