By Buckley Morris

June 27, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this

This was about who would pay for the trauma center,not whether we need one or not.Again this is a case of the public againest paying the bill for private intrests. Buck

By Voted "NO"

June 27, 2007 11:00 AM | Link to this

A “For Profit” venture that had approximately $50 million in profits last year wants the taxpayers to pay for THEIR trauma center staffing/equipment(already built)??? Seems like the issue was not about having a trauma center here…yes, it may be useful but, who was going to pay for it? If Lawnwood/HCA feels it is so critical then why don’t they pay for it out of THEIR profits and “upgrade” THEIR hospital facilities. Just think about all the payments from various sources, both private and public, that they would receive from anyone requiring those services (has anyone looked at a hospital bill lately???). It probably wouldn’t take them too long to recoup their expenditures! The voters obviously “got it” and resounding said “NO”.

By Marie Johnson

June 27, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this

PB County residents do not pay for St. Mary’s so you are not footing the bill. This is a direct quote from the paper and has been in the paper several times in the past few weeks.

“Treasure Coast trauma patients are airlifted to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach and Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, but residents don’t pay into the Palm Beach County health district or Holmes Regional Medical Center.”

By jam

June 27, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this

For profit = investor owned.
The hospital should solicit donations from it’s own shareholders or supporters (donors) to fund the trauma center. After all, those who end up using the trauma center will pay for services. Why should a resident pay taxes for the trauma center and then turn around and pay for the services?

By Sandy G

June 27, 2007 8:31 AM | Link to this

The need of a trauma center is not the question, but, being taxed for a for-profit hospital was the big issue. They spent hundreds of thousands for advertising, etc. that could have gone to towards paying for the trauma center.

By SuzyQ

June 27, 2007 7:16 AM | Link to this

I used to live there and they do need a trauma center, however I do not blame the taxpayers for rejecting this. However, us taxpayers in PB County, where I now live, foot the bill! Something is wrong here! I thought I read that this “hospital” they are referring to made a huge profit!

By Bill

June 27, 2007 7:10 AM | Link to this

Trauma Centeres are a good thing. However, it is not when a PRIVATE FOR PROFIT hospital wants tax dollars to pay for them to make even more profit. Other Trauma Centers are established without the public bein responsible for seeing that the hospital then makes a profit.