Grand Jury fingers improper expenditures by SHD

By Warren C. Gibson

The Grand Jury says the Sequoia Healthcare District does not have voter approval for giveaways to private charities and should stop collecting taxes now that it no longer owns Sequoia Hospital.

A recent San Mateo County Grand Jury report pinpointed the problem with the District, going back to Measure H in 1996 which authorized the sale of Sequoia Hospital to Catholic Healthcare West.

"Measure H and the ballot literature accompanying it did not mention in any way that the District taxpayers were still being assessed and would continue to be assessed for the purpose of maintaining a hospital that would be owned and maintained by a private entity ..."

"Today these tax revenues and other District revenues are being directed by the Sequoia Health Care District Board in great part to charitable activities within the Distyrict but not in sifnificant part to the purposes described by Measure H or the 1946 ballot measure."

"The Grand Jury believes that property taxes for District taxpayers should be reduced unless voters approve expenditures for purposes not described in 1996 Measure H or the 1946 ballot measure."

The Grand Jury also said, "The District's continued receipt of property taxes is inappropriate in light of the facts:

• It no longer owns a hospital ...
• It has accumulated cash reserves in excess of $41 million.
• It has not explained ... how it intends to use these funds."

I am Warren Gibson and am running on a slate with Harland Harrison and Jack Hickey. If elected, we pledge to implement the following four-point program:
1. Stop distributing tax money to private groups.
2. Stop collecting new tax money for the District.
3. Refund the $41 million hoard to the taxpayers.
4. Disband the Sequoia Healthcare District.

For more information, please visit my web page. There you will find more information including links to the Grand Jury report.