UPDATED: Looming taxes continue to burden property owners

In the City Council's committee meeting on 10/23 Melisa Files, Director of Finance reported:

1)  Revenues were up by 5% of target and
2)  Expenditures were 4% below target

So "we are in a nice place to be" says Ms. Files.

Yes we are, many thanks to the "surge in permitting fees" from development and a "one-time construction tax," according to Files. 

Historically, the City has assessed  property owners the State's maximum allowable 1% property tax.  But times have changed and the City is swimming in revenue like never before from the massive development of our Downtown and Overlake urban centers.

Owing to this unprecedented growth the City of Redmond should change their practices and forgo the 1% property tax this year.  Residents are already burdened by looming school district taxes and in April, an EvergreenHealth $300M bond initiative, among other taxes.

It's time the City tightens their belt.

-- Bob Yoder, Opinion

Sources:  City Council Committee of the Whole meeting.
                EvergreenHealth commission meetings
                Landscape       

Evergreen Hospital announces new emergency department in Redmond's Bella Bottega shopping center

Evergreen's Redmond Medical Clinic and Emergency Department to be located in Bella Bottega

"Evergreen Hospital is pleased to announce it will open a freestanding emergency department in downtown Redmond in 2011.  Ground breaking for the three level, 48,000-square-foot facility is set for May of this year.  (Thirty-six underground parking stalls and nearby parking is planned to service patients and 50 staff.)   

The emergency department will be part of a new Evergreen medical complex that will be built in the Bella Bottega shopping center. The facility will also house lab services and advanced diagnostic imaging; it will also merge Evergreen's two Redmond-based primary care practices - Evergreen Medical Group Redmond and Family Medicine of Redmond.

When completed, the emergency department will have the capacity to provide care for 35,000 patients per year and will open with 16 emergency care exam rooms. Open around the clock, it will be staffed by a team of board-certified emergency room physicians, trauma-trained nurses and social workers.

"Evergreen Hospital has provided exceptional care to the communities in our public hospital district for the past 38 years," says Al DeYoung, president of the Evergreen Board of Commissioners. "We have a responsibility to our rapidly growing service area to provide access to the highest standard of health care, including emergency and primary care."

Evergreen plans to invest approximately $15 million in the project.  An estimated 50 staff members will work the new Emergency Department and clinic.  Underground parking for 36 cars is planned within the building.  For more information go to http://www.evergreenhealthcare.org/.

Do you think there will be enough parking space for this facility and others around it? 

Posted and edited by Bob Yoder
Source:  Evergreen Hospital website

Hospital picks Evergreen CEO Steve Brown to guide expansion | Penn State News | Local - Centre Daily Times

Hospital picks CEO Steve Brown to guide expansion Penn State News Local - Centre Daily Times

Head of Seattle-area facility has skills overseeing growth.

The CEO who has overseen dramatic growth at Evergreen Hospital, near Seattle  has been selected to guide similar developments as chief executive officer of Mount Nittany Medical Center, PA. 

Steve Brown is credited with overseeing the financial turnaround of Evergreen Hospital Medical Center in Kirkland, Wash., and an expansion in both the hospital’s facilities and services during his eight-year tenure CEO.   Read more

by Nick Malawskey- nmalawsk@centredaily.com
centerdaily.com