Whiteside Co., Ill. (ECWd) –
Morrison Community Hospital, a Hospital District in Whiteside County, is the only county we have found so far that has passed a referendum where the voters authorized the district to operate outside of its corporate boundaries.
Since this hospital district levies a property tax, the referendum is required under the Hospital District Law, Section 15, paragraph 1, which states, in part:
“If a Hospital District utilizes its authority to levy a tax pursuant to Section 20 of this Act for the purpose of establishing and maintaining hospitals or hospital facilities, such District shall be prohibited from establishing and maintaining hospitals or hospital facilities located outside of its district unless so authorized by referendum.“
According to WQAD, the voters in this district passed a referendum in the fall of 2020 authorizing it to conduct business outside its corporate boundaries. What is particularly interesting is the press release published by the district prior to the election indicating a “remote office location one day a week” and “sharing leased office space.”
Another “plus” mentioned is “reducing exposure” for staff and patients – keep in mind this is in the beginnings of the “COVID-19” era, and it appears this district took full advantage of the situation at the time.
The district currently conducts business at the following counties:
- Whiteside
- Carroll
- Lee
They also conduct business in Clinton, Iowa.
The Clinton, Iowa location is questionable to us, because the Hospital District Law clearly states that a hospital district has the powers to conduct business within the State of Illinois:
“The establishment, maintenance and operation of safe and accessible hospitals within the State of Illinois and the creation of Hospital Districts having powers necessary or desirable for the establishment and continued maintenance and operation of such hospitals are declared and determined to be in the interest of public health.”
We will address the Iowa location in a separate article.
