In response to Kathy Spoor’s letter last week:

He said/she said is always interesting conversation and can, at times, be entertaining as well. Both Bruce Walker and Kathy have good points to make about the proposed cost of a new hospital and the need for a new hospital. Do we need to upgrade our old existing hospital infrastructure? Yes! Can the residents of North Pacific County afford the current proposed price tag? No!

Here’s the very bottom line: if this bond is passed as proposed, every property owner in North Pacific County is going to see a 20% increase in their yearly property tax bill. Fifteen dollars per assessed $100,000 translates to a 20% yearly hike. The median housing price in South Bend today is $347,400. If this proposed bond passes, property taxes on the median home will increase $625 per year! That’s $625 added to your existing property tax bill yearly.

Here’s my concern: The hospital board is proposing our area needs to build a new “Cadillac” of a hospital. We don’t need a Cadillac, we need a Chevy! What type of hospital and services could we have for a more reasonable 5% or 6% tax increase? Residents in North Pacific County are going to continue to drive their “Chevys” to other counties for medical services in the future because we simply do not have the population to support all that being promised by the hospital board.

The board needs to be realistic and fair to local residents. Residents need to be smart and realize the financial impact this bond will have on their expenses and fully understand that many medical services will still need to be provided out of the area. I believe the Willapa Harbor Hospital could provide the needed hospital medical services to our community at significantly less cost than the $100 million currently being proposed — that’s a big number!

Responding to Matthew Ellsworth’s comments in last week’s paper, “County assessor missed the math.”

Mr. Ellsworth, you may have been in shock at our assessor’s comments regarding the Willapa Harbor Hospital’s proposal for a new facility but many residents living in the community were not! The WWH wants to build a new nearly $100 million hospital on the backs of local residents who, in many cases, cannot afford it. The proposed bond covers about half that expense and translates to a 20% annual property tax increase for every property owner in North Pacific County. As you say, “this is fact. No more, no less. Full stop.”

Your “real math” comment is kinda truthful. The proposed bond is $15 per month for every $100,000 of assessed value. I suggest you and every taxpayer “Do the math!” to truly understand the financial implications of this request, which I’ve outline above.

For many, the yearly increase would be much higher. Your example of this hospital costing us merely a tank of gas per month is almost comical — I suggest you find a new station. Lastly, I do not believe our assessor was derelict in his duties. In fact, I appreciate his efforts in bringing the true costs of this hospital proposal to the taxpayers’ attention. As you state, facts do matter, math matters and our healthcare future matters. I will add, honesty is also the best policy.

JERRY BOWMAN

South Bend