El Dorado residents who want to serve on a new board overseeing local hospital tax revenue have until 5 p.m. Nov. 16 to submit an application to the city clerk’s office.
The five-member El Dorado Hospital Tax Board will advise on the use of a 1/2% city sales tax approved by voters during a March 3 special election. The tax took effect July 1 and is projected to produce at least $3 million a year for Baptist Medical Health Center-El Dorado.
Tax will support hospital needs
The tax is part of the Access for Life initiative. Revenue is intended to provide an additional source of funding for maintenance, improvements, renovations, expansions, equipment and upgrades at the hospital and related health care facilities.
Baptist Health System took over management of the former South Arkansas Regional Hospital under an agreement intended to help overhaul the facility, improve its operations and sustain local health care services. The city is creating the advisory board as part of the arrangement for handling the tax money.
“Business-minded”
City Council Member Andre Rucks previously urged the council to consider applicants’ experience and skills, including medical backgrounds and business experience involving the purchase and sale of property and other assets. The proposed board’s membership requirements call for every member to live within El Dorado city limits and be a registered voter in Union County.
Board structure
The council initially considered an advisory board without a specific ward-based structure. After Council Member Willie McGhee asked that the membership reflect the city’s four wards, council members agreed to a five-seat arrangement with one resident from each ward and one at-large member.
- Four seats will represent El Dorado’s four wards.
- One seat will be at large.
- All members must live inside the city and be registered voters in Union County.
Under the tentative arrangement, the city would reimburse hospital-related expenses that are presented to and approved by the advisory board and the City Council. The council began considering the ordinance establishing the board in August and placed it on second reading for its regular meeting Sept. 10.
Applications are being accepted in City Clerk Heather McVay’s office. The board’s responsibilities will center on reviewing proposed expenses and helping direct the sales-tax revenue toward the hospital and related facilities under the city’s agreement with Baptist Health System.
