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Show 7 t December 5, 2001 50 cents Health District reports better year, requests additional subsidy system, which has struggled through several years of operating losses. He states that the district has turned a corner with one of the strongest medi-sid- y cal staffs in memory, strong San Juan County Health Care officials say they have cut their operating loss in half in the past year, but will still need another year of additional County sub- in order to dig out from its ongoing operational problems. The San Juan Health Care Board of Trustees have approved a 2002 budget which asks for a $500,000 operational subsidy from San Juan County addition to the standard prop- - management,, and increasing number of visiting specialty viders and a core of loyal staff, Hart states that management has focused attention on the acute care at San Juan Hospi-i- n tal rather than on primary care at county clinics. Hart also outlined a number of weaknesses plaguing the pro-Distri- erty tax. San Juan County Health Care officials presented ct . a budget op November 28 which the district will break trict, including loss of trust even after the County subsidies, among many constituents, lack Winter snows in Valley of the Gods. It would be an additional year of diagnostic equipment, finan-thLarry Wells photo the County would be asked dal problems, billing and col-t- o heavily subsidize the Health Iecting systems failures, and Care District above and beyond problems with contracts. He added that the district has property tax collections. Health care officials state that the sub- - made significant improvement sidy is necessary for another in a number of the weaknesses, San Juan County Commis- Requested expenditures have until December 24 dude $300,000 to fund legal de-1-0 year in order to give time to dig and stated that restructuring out from the financial difficul- - contracts will have a significant P"? down the muposed 2002. feefc Coisxionisfg have, tietfWhicft plague the district''1 Impact ftn'finances. determined to more aggressively county budget by $423,981. In the year 2000, the net op-For instance, in the 2001 . At a December 3 budget hear-- . pursue county legal doiiw on mil- - cal year, more than 30 percent loss exceeded $2.3 the ing, rural roads. The 2001 budget for requested expenditures lion. Health officials state that of gross revenues were written of $7,820,347 exceed the antiri legal defense, was $100,000. In addition, the San Juan after significant cuts and off for allowances and deduc-changpated revenues of $7,396,366. in the district, the net tions. However, as a result of As a result, Commissioners will , Health Care District is request-b- e looking at ways to cut the ing subsidies of $1,059,674 operating loss in 2001 has been restructured contracts, in 2002, requested expenditures, above and beyond property tax cut in half, to just less than $1.2 the percent of gross patient enues that are written off for Commisioners will approve a revenues. Approximately half of the to addition In for allowances and deductions will subsidy at the December 24 the requested funds would be budget Commission meeting. The 2001 used to subsidize operations, operations, the district also is drop to 23 percent. This will budget will also be opened and with the remainder used to fund asking the Commission to fund represent a $425,000 positive adjusted at the Deccember 24 capital expenditures, inrliidiwg more than $500,000 in capital cash impact on the district, In July, 2001, San Juan meeting. The meeting will also new surgical equipment and an expenditures from the Districts Trust Care Fund. Health include a hearing to consider a upgraded County Commissioners ap- mrViine : - In a December 3 budcounty proved another $500,000 in The county budget includes wage increase for elected offi- Commissioners r.get cials. capital equipment which was hearing, requests for $707,550 in capital is used to purchase and install a not the stated that county Anticipated revenues for the projects. Hie proposed capital to of CT Scan. Hart says the CT Scan the likely funding approve 2002 year include nearly $3 mil- - projects include $150,000 for n and entire suggested gives the district request from taxes, $1.8 million ports, $100,000 for fire rescue, indistrict care the health that diagnostic and imaging from intergovemment sources, $48,000 for television commu-nearl- y other possible funding ment. $1.2 million from service nications, and $103,000 for the sources. District Financial Manager charges, and $800,000 in inter-- sheriffs department, In the past, the District has Lyman Duncan states that the est revenue from trust funds. pursued funding for capital new CT Scan will have an from the Community mediate positive impact on the Revitalizathe Impact Board, hospital. He estimates that tion Fund, and other sources. there will be up to 100 hospital The proposed capital expendi- - admissions a year as a result of tures will include new equip-- the presence of the CT Scan, ment in the San Juan Hospital Before now, patients were sent surgery room, and an upgrade to hospitals out of the county of the 18 year old machine. In addition. Hart states that rt Health care director John Doctor Matteson, a general states that the operating geon, will begin more compli-subsid- y and capital expendi- - cated procedures at the hospi-ture- s are necessary in order to tal beginning in January, slow the continued flight of San Health care district manage- Juan County residents out of the ment outlined a series of steps districts health facilities. Hart being taken at the district, stat-statthat the capital expendi- - ing that the status quo will sink ttires will keep the hospital in the ship and hesitation will excellent physical condition. perpetuate all the districts The presentation of the bud- - problems. In addition, the dis-gwas a part of the annual fi- - trict anticipates a positive meeting of the health lution of all outstanding law-cadistrict Hart outlined the suits within 18 months, Smct: Lnm Stack baity. MoataSo tal of Eaqr. Uakk CBayaktaiw Weaker Alaeaec strengths and weaknesses of the dis-predi- at A 1 County budget nearly $7.4 million .V tlte cassin Five killed in traffic accidents - See page 2 Santa is coming to Monticello - See page 2 Supreme Court hears appeal - See page 3 More house fires - See page 4 Moonticello Elementary School names Reflections winners - See pg. 9 Basketball and wrestling seasons begin -- See pages 10-1- 1 in-sion- : ,v I fis-erati- ng " Daytime TV - See Caveman, pg 12 Change of season in La Sal -- es - rev-millio- Seepage 14 I I n. boy Hyatt Connie Jean & Herbert Todachinnie, Sr. November 27 " boy Treavin Jim Sherry Oliver & Aaron David Jim November 27 x-r- ay boy Reece Kyle Elena Pano & Rick Crawford Decemberl air-lio- equip-vestiga- te im-proje- San Juan Statistics November Weather Report x-r- ay sur-Ha- es et reso-nanci- al re I Monticello Bianding Nov Hi Lo Pr Hi Lo Pr 26 26 7 .02 36 15 27 25 8 tr. 34 15 28 23 1 33 14 29 23 16 .24 28 20 .73 30 29 15 .28 37 25 .10 Dec 1 33 5 tr. 41 18 2 38 28 tr. 43 32 Monticello received 3 of snow Nov. 29, and 4'' Nov. 30. Bianding had T Nov. 29 and 1" Nov. 30. 1 um 1 News Roundup 2 Letters 6. 8 10 Community News ... 12 Obituaries .14,16 16 Legals 17 Real Estate 18 Classified Society Sports |