Can we afford a new hospital?

As Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) gears up to potentially take another shot at securing funding for a new hospital, two trustees have concerns over the overall cost.

For Chairman Mark Erickson, the issue is debt: CCMSD could indeed be granted funding, such as American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money, he said at last week’s board meeting, but that it will not be enough to cover the full cost of a new building.

He asked, how much debt can and should the district take on to make this happen?

“Can we afford to pay the bill, based on our run rates and our projected run rates? What kind...