EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — University Medical Center (UMC) is asking El Paso County commissioners to consider adding a nearly $400 million dollar bond proposal to November’s general election ballot.
During the Commissioners Court meeting on Monday, July 15, UMC presented commissioners with how the $396.6 million bond would be spent.
According to the medical center, $207.6 million will go towards increasing healthcare access points across the county.
Those plans entail building a geriatric clinic in Central El Paso, a health center in Horizon, an ambulatory surgical center and emergency and urgent care center in West El Paso and adding rehabilitation services to the East Side. UMC said it also plans on building a specialty clinic at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center building.
In addition to building new infrastructure, $134.5 million will go towards improving the main UMC campus, according to the presentation.
The presentation listed new surgical suites, cardiac catheterization, 25 more beds in the observation unit, improved imaging technology, laboratory services and more parking to this list of upgrades.
The remaining sum would be divided between two new units. About $30 million would be set aside for a cancer center and $24.5 million would go towards a burn and critical care center – something UMC’s public affairs director, Ryan Mielke, said would greatly benefit El Pasoans who need to seek treatment elsewhere like Lubbock.
“Currently, you may not be aware that if somebody, God forbid, a family member or a friend of yours is burned, if they’re burned severely, they’re flown out of El Paso, away from family, away from friends, away from neighbors. This brings that burn center component to El Paso,” Mielke said.
Should commissioners add the bond proposal to November’s ballot and voters approve it, UMC estimates that would cost taxpayers about $94 a year based on a home that is valued at $191,000. That tax amount could fluctuate based on future property values and interest rates.
Commissioners will make their final decision on the proposal on Aug.12.
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