Gridley, California, Orchard Hospital Parcel Tax, Measure M3 (November 2016)

Title: Special Property Tax for Stand by Costs of Providing Emergency Room Services in a Critical Access Hospital (Orchard Hospital) Shall an existing special property tax to fund standby costs of providing emergency room services at the Orchard Hospital, in the amount of $70 per residential equivalent unit per year for an additional ten years (vacant parcels and parcels without residential units shall not be subject to the tax) to raise approximately $330,000.00 per year, as enacted by Gridley Resolution 2016-R-020, and a corresponding increase in the City's spending limit, be approved? ^[2]

This proposition seeks voter approval for the continued imposition of a special property tax upon residential properties exclusively. If approved by the voters, the tax revenues would be used exclusively to pay for stand-by costs of providing emergency room services at Orchard Hospital in Gridley, a critical access hospital. The proposed tax, in the amount of $70.00 per residential equivalent unit would expire after ten (10) years.

The Gridley City Council has placed this measure on the ballot due to concerns that absent supplemental funding, the hospital might be forced to close and that such closure would constitute a detriment to the health, welfare and safety of the citizenry.

A two-thirds vote of the qualified electors is required to continue the imposition of the proposed special tax. ^[2]