Trustees set date for budget hearing

The Washington County Hospital and Clinics Board of Trustees will hold the public hearing for fiscal year 2015-16 budget at 4 p.m. Feb. 26, in the Robert Nicola Conference Room in the hospital. The budget is based on a one mill tax rate, which has been the tax rate since FY 2003-04.

The total tax will be $1,050,115. That is based on $1,020,170 in property taxes and $29,945 in utility replacement. This is an increase of $39,646 from the prior year.

The public hearing date was set during the board's January meeting on Jan. 29.

CEO Dennis Hunger told the board that there is a proposed bill in the Iowa Senate that would require hospital subcommittees to be considered public bodies. He also said that one operating room was out of service while a new air quality system is installed. When completed, the same air quality system will be installed in the hospital's second operating room.

Hunger also announced that cardiologist Dr. Stephan Schomer, M.D., will join the staff full time in May. His office will be in the Washington County Medical Clinic.