Is the San Gorgonio Hospital getting ready to suck taxpayers dry ?

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1/26/13 – Another huge bond measure may soon be on the horizon. In a presentation before the Banning City Council on January 22, Mark Turner, CEO of the San Gorgonio Hospital alluded to the possibility that there may be an additional $ 185 million needed from Pass area taxpayers. The funds are earmarked for a new patient tower – the same tower that was promised long ago – but was never built.

In 2006, the hospital had secured a $ 108 million bond for this purpose – to build the tower (Measure A) . But due to horrendous mismanagement the taxpayer did not get what they paid for. In 2012, the Riverside County Grand Jury investigated the hospital and issued a report, citing mismanagement of the project among many other major issues, (view report).

Another $ 185 million bond would increase the hospital’s total debt to $ 293 million. This would make the hospital by far the largest public debtor in the Pass area, larger than the City of Banning ($ 115 million debt) and the City of Beaumont (< $ 100 million debt) combined ! Stop and think about this for a minute ! Well over a quarter of a billion for a local hospital ?

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COUNCIL MEMBER DON PETERSON ASKS TOUGH QUESTIONS

During the session, newly elected council member Don Peterson starts out by asking CEO Turner some very tough questions – questions that would be on the minds of many taxpayers.

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COUNCIL MEMBER ED MILLER POINTS TO GRAND JURY REPORT AND LOW HOSPITAL SATISFACTION RATINGS

Newly elected member of the council Ed Miller points out that the Grand Jury Report made reference to exceptionally low hospital ratings :

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Besides having been given very low ratings by independent rating agencies, which were cited by the Grand Jury,

Medicare and Medical also give low ratings – they rate the Hospital’s skilled nursing facility only 2 Stars out of 5 !

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COUNCIL MEMBER BOB BOTTS LASHES OUT AT THE GRAND JURY – AND THE BANNING INFORMER

As a core member of the Pass area’s “Good-Old-Boys-Club”, council member Bob Botts has a long track record of unaccountability when it comes to  taxpayer dollars : everyone will recall that even AFTER the Riverside County Grand Jury told the Banning City Council to stop funding the Banning Cultural Alliance, Bob Botts (along with Hanna and Robinson) ignored their recommendations and voted for hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional funding.

And this time it is no different : Botts says he will support the hospital raising the money – showing no concern whatsoever what his constituents might think of that idea.

Botts then goes on to express his contempt for the Grand Jury System. Instead of discussing the issues, he engages in name calling, stating that the Grand Jury (and the Banning Informer) are just the usual “naysayers”.

Botts’ display of arrogance peaks when he goes on to state that he essentially ignored those Grand Jury recommendations that he did not like.

The following video of the January 22 session speaks for itself :

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To show contempt for a Grand Jury is to show contempt for everything that America stands for. Thus, Bob Botts’ statements come across as profoundly un-American ! In plain sight and for everyone to see, Bob Botts shows that he couldn’t care less if your property tax bill rises by hundreds of dollars. He is a traitor to every Pass area taxpayer.

Should he try to run again in 2014, voters will finally get an opportunity to “kick the Botts out” – once and for all !

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CEO IS FORCED TO ADMIT THAT A SIGNIFICANT UNIT OF THE HOSPITAL IS SHUT DOWN

Under direct questioning by council member Don Peterson, CEO Mark Turner is forced to admit that the hospital’s “Transitional Care Unit” – one of eight licensed units (source) – was shut down due to operational and licensing issues raised by the State of California.

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At no time during his presentation did CEO Mark Turner volunteer this information. Also, the San Gorgonio Hospital never issued a press release to let the public know. Was this an attempt to cover up the issue ?

At a very minimum, it appears that CEO Turner decided that the public had no need to know when significant hospital units close.

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CONCLUSION

All of the above goes to show how far out of control things are at the San Gorgonio Hospital. Newly elected council members Peterson and Miller must be commended for looking out for the taxpayer and for asking questions.

Should Pass Area taxpayers be asked to throw good money after bad and approve another bond they cannot afford ? Can we have our property tax bill increase by another $ 500 – 1,000/year ?  Can the Pass area taxpayers carry a debt of $ 300 million for a hospital ? And should we be asked to pay for the same hospital tower twice ?

Bob Botts says he will make sure those funds are raised. Fortunately, it will be the voters who will have the last word.

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