A proposal to create a taxing district for St. Mark's Medical Center in La Grange, Texas, which would have kept the hospital open for the foreseeable future, failed in a landslide vote on June 13, according to the Texas Observer.
The 65-bed hospital has a heavy debt load and has experienced a decline in patient volume, which has led to financial challenges. The proposed hospital district would have helped St. Mark's Medical Center stay afloat by taxing county homeowners and using those funds to pay for equipment, recruitment and other initiatives.
Without the taxing district, St. Mark's Medical Center is a step closer to financial collapse, according to the Texas Observer. If the hospital closes, local residents would have to travel at least 20 miles to receive emergency room care.
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