Show the deficit Ever since the I. I W. W Allen hospital has been constructed it has been a focal point for pro and con discussions criticism which have often been adverse and a financial financial financial fin fin- ancial puzzle A continuous puzzle of operating operating operating op op- deficits At the last meeting of the Grand county commissioners the subject again came to the foreground Not particularly because new problems had arisen but becauSe because because be be- cause the commissioners decided some type of action needed to be betaken be taken Ed Mehle hospital manager had given en the story to the commissioners as he saw it A story with figures showing that the hospital was costing the taxpayers over per year to maintain it The county is assessing the taxpayers 4 mills to meet this deficit 4 mills is the maximum legal levy that can be assessed If it does not provide enough money to meet the costs of the hospital above its income the hospital operates hi in the red This of course it cannot do It is apparent needs to be done The question is how The tax ax levy cannot be increased further under the present present present pres pres- ent law Continual raises in county evaluation evaluation evaluation eval eval- will provide more money with the 4 mill levy but what if this is not sufficient sufficient sufficient And it is absolutely necessary that the levy be the maximum Is it possible that hospital income might be increased enough to lower the levy Mr Mehle and the commissioners in indicate indicate indicate in- in agreement feel that among other things the principal reason why the hospital hospital hospital hos hos- pital does not meet its expenses is the thelow thelow thelow low census as was reported last week They believe part of this can be bo corrected corrected corrected cor cor- if more of the people needing ho hoe o will patronize the hospital at Moab rather than go elsewhere They believe believe believe be be- lieve that lack of support by Grand county people is one of the principal reasons why the hospital continues on its deficit trend There is also some consideration asto as asto asto to whether an increase in rates at the hospital might be the answer There have been attempts made to determine how portions of the hospital if not used might be closed in order to cut down on expenses The County Commissioners and Mr Mehle have given the situation a good time of study It will be our purpose in the next two or three issues of the T-I T to present the conditions and statistical figures at atthe atthe atthe the hospital which we believe will enlighten enlighten enlighten en en- lighten the public on the situation and it would be hoped might encourage all of ofUs ofus ofus us to put forth whatever efforts we can canto canto canto to decrease or this operating deficit The first of these articles is in this issue |