Evergreen Hospital To Hold Public Hearing on $428 Million Budget November 12

Photography during Ev. Pub Commission Mtgs is prohibited 

UPDATED ON 11/10:  The 2011 Property Tax Levy is budgeted to increase $699,248 or ~ 5% this year to $15,303,191.  That's an increase of 18% over the 2010 levy increase*.  (Redmond's Evergreen Commissioner August Kempf  didn't respond to my request to meet for clarification on the budget.). 

How Levy Funds Are Allocated: 

Each program or service that requests levy funding must annually demonstrate the community need.  Proposals are evaluated based on the need, and whether the overall benefit to the community justifies the resources.

Evergreen's five publicly-elected Board of Commissioners have the final say on distribution of levy funds each year, based on the recommendations of a standing levy committee (and the public). They represent 155,152 District #2 voters in Redmond, Kirkland, Woodinville, Sammamish, Duvall and Kenmore. 

While some levy-supported programs specifically address the special needs of the under-served, the chronically ill, the disabled and high-risk populations, the majority of the programs are for use by the entire community. For instance, if you phone into the Evergreen Healthline referral service or participate in certain health education classes, you have benefited directly from levy-supported services. 

Other health care education classes require insurance payments, a fee or expect a donation. Your levy dollars are not directly benefiting you here.  For example, the 20-hour "Fundamentals of Diabetes Class" costs $1750.00  or $85/hour.  Adult Bereavement donation is $30.00  Cost of four "Baby Care Class" fees total $180.00  Three "Healthy Pregnancy Class" fees total $200.00 Three "Family Maternity Classes total $90.00.  Seven "After Baby is Born classes total $276.00.  Cost of Three "Bringing Baby Home" Classes total $120.000. Your levy dollars are not directly benefiting you here. The total cost for all programs is:  $2646.00.  [Prices are taken from the newly revised 2010 Evergreen website.]
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For more information on Evergreen's levy-funded services, please call 425.899.2538, comment to the commissioners at:  commissioners@evergreenhealthcare.org, comment at the Public Hearing or come back to Redmond Neighborhood Blog (RNB) this week for updates and to comment.

The Public Hearing is Friday, November 12 at 7:00AM in Room Tan #250 (Public Meeting Room) at Evergreen Hospital (Physicians & Surgeons Building).  For directions email Lauren Burton at lburton@evergreenhealthcare.org   I filed under the Freedom of Information Act to learn about the Hearing.

By Bob Yoder
Photo by Yoder

BUDGET HEARING AND SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE FOUND IN THE "SEATTLE TIMES"

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Commissioners of King County Public Hospital District No. 2 will hold a Public Hearing on the Proposed 2011 Budget at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, November 12, 2010 in Room Tan 250 at Evergreen Hospital Medical Center, 12040 N.E. 128th Street, Kirkland, Washington. Immediately after the Hearing the Board will hold a Special Board Meeting to consider approval of the Proposed 2011 Budget. Copies of the Proposed 2011 Budget will be available for review in Administration in Green 1.203 at Evergreen Hospital Medical Center, 12040 N.E. 128th Street, Kirkland, Washington on and after Friday, October 29, 2010. The meeting location meets Americans with Disability Act standards concerning accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Individuals with specific requests for auxiliary aids to assist in their attendance can contact Sandra Kreider, RN from 8am - 5pm, Monday - Friday at 425-899-2278 or TTY: 425-899-2007. Al F. DeYoung, Chair Board of Commissioners King County Public Hospital District No. 2.  Seattle Times, 11/1/2010.