County prepares panel to write children’s hospital ballot information

Adrienne Packer

Friday, July 14, 2000 | 11:26 a.m.

Clark County officials are assembling a committee to write pros and cons for a ballot question in anticipation that a physicians' group will be successful in bringing a proposed children's hospital to a vote in November.

If the physicians, who call themselves the "Caring for Children Committee," collect 38,641 signatures by July 31, an $80 million bond question will appear on the general election ballot.

The county by law must assemble an independent group to write arguments and rebuttals on whether the Clark County Commission should authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds.

In May the majority of commissioners voted against placing the question on the ballot, saying they need more time to study the community's existing services and future needs.

The bonds would cover the constructing, acquiring and equipping of the independent children's hospital, which would be overseen by the county-operated University Medical Center.

The board voted 4-2 to put off the vote until a task force looks into whether the facility is feasible.

The commissioners said if the question is not put on the November ballot, it could be placed on the city of Las Vegas' June ballot.

But before the task force could be put together, the pediatricians filed an affidavit with the Clark County Election's Department. In the affidavit, the physicians argued that because existing bonds soon will be retired, the county can issue the necessary bonds for a children's hospital without raising taxes.

Administrators with Sunrise Children's Hospital, which has about 140 beds dedicated to pediatric care, have argued that their facility serves the community effectively. Sunrise officials supported the idea of a task force, saying all pediatricians in the community should be involved in the planning of the hospital.

A recently published public notice said the ballot question committee will consist of six residents. Three will write arguments for the bond issue and three will write the arguments against it.

"To address the possibility that the petition may result in a ballot question and to allow the committee adequate time to complete its statutory responsibilities, the process to select a committee to write arguments and rebuttals must be initiated prior to the July 31 petition filing deadline," the notice says.