New children’s hospital to go on June ballot

Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2000 | 9:44 a.m.

Voters will decide next spring whether to fund a new children's hospital at University Medical Center in Las Vegas.

Clark County commissioners voted 6-1 Tuesday to place the issue on a June special election ballot despite the pleas of more than 200 physicians and residents to allow a vote in November.

Backers of the proposal say a children's hospital is vital to the rapidly growing community. They argued that the sooner the proposal goes to the voters, the sooner more beds will be available to children waiting for space.

But commissioners said more time is needed to determine the most pressing health care issue in the community before allocating $80 million in bonds to build a children's hospital.

They also questioned whether the county could obtain the necessary approval from the Debt Management Commission in time to place the matter on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.

Officials with Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center - a private adult and children's hospital - are pushing for a medical needs study and favored a vote in the spring.

Others who wanted an earlier vote voiced fears that a small voter turnout in the spring and a possible campaign blitz by HCA Healthcare, which owns Sunrise, could doom the project.

The proposed 255,840-square-foot hospital would have 152 beds and six operating, 11 examination and 29 emergency rooms.

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