A plan to build a new Parkland Memorial Hospital, costing nearly $1.3 billion, is headed in the direction of Dallas County voters in November.
The hospital's board of managers unanimously agreed Tuesday to ask Dallas County commissioners to call a bond election as part of the Nov. 4 general election.
VERNON BRYANT/DMN
Supporters of Dallas' charity hospital have been lobbying the county for years to replace the overcrowded, rundown facility.
Voters would be asked to underwrite about 60 percent of the new charity hospital's costs – up to $747 million – through the sale of general obligation and revenue bonds.
Supporters of Dallas' charity hospital have been lobbying the county for years to replace the overcrowded, rundown facility.
The taxpayers' share of the project would raise county property taxes as much as 2.5 cents per $100 in assessed value. The owner of a $150,000 home would see an annual tax bill increase of about $30 with a standard homestead exemption.
County commissioners have until Aug. 31 to set the November date.
Commissioner Ken Mayfield, who attended the board meeting, said he expected his colleagues to approve the bond election.
"There was a lot of effort put into this plan," he said. "They wanted to be sure that they're doing what's right with taxpayer money."
Hospital officials appeared relieved and elated after the vote, which was followed by a smattering of applause.
"It's a very happy day for me," said Dr. Ron Anderson, the hospital's president and chief executive officer, who was smiling broadly and accepting congratulations.
If approved by voters, the new Parkland would be the largest hospital built in the United States in recent years, officials said.
The proposed 862-bed hospital would give Parkland 28 percent more beds, allowing more of the county's indigent patients to get timely medical care, the officials said. The current facility was built in 1954 and accommodates twice the number of patients it was intended to handle.
Planning for the new public hospital got under way three years ago with the formation of a blue-ribbon panel of business and health leaders. The group considered the changing demographics of Dallas County as well as the outdated condition of Parkland before recommending a new and larger facility.
The project represents the second attempt to replace Parkland in recent years. A previous hospital board approved a replacement hospital in 2002, only to have the project die for lack of political support.
"When the project got derailed almost five years ago, I wasn't sure that this day would ever come," Dr. Anderson said.
Parkland officials had considered building the new hospital in stages, but realized it would cost an additional $100 million and take more than a decade to complete.
"The board has decided that there are certain economies to building it as a single project," said Walter Jones, Parkland's senior vice president for facilities.
As proposed, the new facility would open in April 2014 on property across from the current facility on Harry Hines Boulevard.
The remaining construction funds for the new hospital would come from Parkland's cash revenues, plus an aggressive campaign to raise $150 million from private sources in Dallas, officials said.
They stressed, however, that taxpayers would not kick in more than $747 million, regardless of rising construction costs, the possible failure of the fundraising effort or any future decline in Parkland reserves.
"Under no circumstances can that amount be exceeded, should the voters approve the election," warned attorney Ray Hutchison, an adviser to the hospital board.
Hospital board member Alan Walne agreed.
"If we don't get the $150 million, we've got to revise by downsizing the project or using additional cash," he said.
Parkland, the primary teaching facility for UT Southwestern Medical Center, offers:
•A Level I trauma center that manages more than 50 percent of all trauma cases in Dallas County
•Regional resources for disaster preparedness and response
•The only burn center in North Texas
•Emergency and specialty outpatient services
SOURCE: Parkland Memorial Hospital
