Grim if it passes, dire if it doesn't
Medical service tax
Karen Holzmeister, STAFF WRITER, The Daily Review
January 22, 2004

HAYWARD -- It will be a Herculean task, Measure A proponents agreed this week, to inform and gain the support of voters for a half-cent sales tax increase to fund Alameda County medical services. Even if the March 2 ballot measure passes by a two-thirds majority, speakers said Tuesday at a campaign meeting, the estimated $90 million a year in new tax income won't resolve all the financial problems for county hospitals, clinics and community medical centers.

The Alameda County Medical Center already posts an annual $71.6 million deficit. Medical center facilities include Highland Hospital in Oakland, Fairmont Hospital in San Leandro and clinics in Hayward, Newark and Oakland.

Measure A, if approved, would provide $67.5 million for the medical center, with the remaining $22.5 million distributed to other hospitals and community-based health care organizations.

That's why accountability and better management at county facilities have to accompany any pledges about Measure A expenditures, said Michael Mahoney, chief executive officer at St. Rose Hospital in Hayward.

Mahoney said he supports Measure A, although increasing the sales tax from 8.25 percent to 8.75 percent "will be hard on poor people," he said.

"We know people need care, but there also has to be some sense of fiscal responsibility," he added. "Nurses and care givers and staff will need salary increases, so what do we do next year? If this ( measure ) covers the current deficit, what about the future?"

Joel Garcia, chief executive officer of the Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, which provides medical services in Hayward, Union City and Fremont, echoed some of Mahoney's concerns.

"We are looking down the barrel of a gun, and I hope we can put a human face on this measure ," he told the two dozen people who met Tuesday at Westminster Hills Presbyterian Church.

"Without health care, we are in a world of hurt. I pray every night for President Bush, Arnold (Gov. Schwarzenegger) and the board of supervisors that they do what we need, that they do the right thing. If we don't have this one half-cent to keep day-to-day (medical services) living intact, I don't think anybody wants to imagine what will happen."

Cutbacks or closure of any county medical facilities would put a strain on other local hospitals, particularly emergency room care, other speakers noted.

"If Highland (emergency room) goes under, the spillover into any (other) ER(s) will mean a really long wait," said Dr. Geneve Allison, a Highland internist.

The "Yes on Measure A" campaign will hold two campaign kickoff events Saturday. The first will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 7Eastmont Town Center, near Bancroft Avenue and Church Street, Oakland.

The second will be from noon to 2 p.m. at Eden Medical Center, the Castro Valley room, 20103 Lake Chabot Road, Castro Valley. Call (510) 632-8775 or go online to www.MeasureA.org for information.

Karen Holzmeister covers Castro Valley, the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, and county government for unincorporated areas. Call her at (510) 293-2478 or e-mail kholzmeister@angnewspapers.com.