Learn about Hospital Prop 1

Public hospital districts in Washington State are created and owned by the community and governed by elected officials with the responsibility to meet the community’s healthcare needs. Valley Medical Center is Public Hospital District No. 1 of King County. Watch this video to learn more.

Click here to see a detailed boundary map of Public Hospital District #1 of King County.

Public hospital districts, like Valley Medical Center, rely mostly on revenue from providing healthcare services. Valley Medical Center serves a high number of patients who have no insurance or who have Medicare or Medicaid which reimburse much lower than the cost of care provided. The tax base helps bridge the gap, supporting access to local healthcare services that may otherwise be impossible.

Hospital Prop 1 has four main purposes:

• Support the viability of 24/7/365 hospital operations, including labor and delivery, trauma and emergency services, and intensive care.
• Help keep critically needed healthcare services local and accessible.
• Reinforce the ability to recruit and retain a remarkable healthcare workforce.
• Allow Valley Medical Center to meet the current and future healthcare needs of our community.

The cost of delivering care has significantly increased, while reimbursements from government programs like Medicare and Medicaid have not kept pace. Valley Medical Center has not asked voters for a levy lift in 20 years, and the levy helps meet the growing need for local healthcare in our community, so essential services stay close to home.

Keeping care local to our more than 600,000 residents in South King County is vital.

• As a community safety-net hospital, Valley Medical Center provides crucial hospital services in South King County 24 hours a day, including labor and delivery, trauma care and emergency services, and intensive hospital care. These services save lives and are provided regardless of an individual's ability to pay.
• When a member of our community needs care, having essential and critical services available nearby can be lifesaving and life-changing. Healthcare close to home means quicker emergency travel time, more convenience, and more time with the ones you love.

Critical funding needs for operations and facilities would be impacted that affect service availability and timely access to care.

Yes. Strengthening hospital operations now means Valley Medical Center will be better equipped to respond to future public health challenges or emergencies, with stable staffing and modern equipment in place.

If passed, the rate may decrease over time as property values fluctuate, but the levy will remain until an adjustment is approved.

Hospital Prop 1 establishes a new rate that remains in place unless changed through another public vote. Any future increases would also require voter approval.

The last levy lift request was voted on and passed twenty years ago, in 2005. It helped fund construction of Valley Medical Center’s South Tower, which expanded critical hospital services and improved patient care for the entire community.

Hospital Prop 1 proposes a total tax levy rate of $.75 per $1,000 of assessed value. This is a $.46 increase per $1,000 above the current amount.

If passed, the levy will provide an estimated $42 million annually to support essential healthcare services.

No. Funds from the levy are designated to support essential hospital services and operations, such as trauma care, emergency services, labor and delivery, and intensive care. They are not intended for executive or administrative salaries.

Public hospital districts are governed by publicly elected commissioners who provide oversight and ensure accountability. Additionally, financial reporting and audits are conducted to ensure funds are used appropriately and transparently.

If you own a $700,000 home (average assessed value for our district), you will see a monthly increase of $27 per month, or $322 per year.

Yes. The Valley (Tax) Dividend Program provides a credit to eligible homeowners who live within Public Hospital District No.1 of King County, based on the property taxes they pay to the hospital district. This credit can be applied to out-of-pocket hospital facility bills at Valley Medical Center—after insurance and other payments have been made. To learn more and see if you’re eligible, Valley Medical Center | The Valley (Tax) Dividend Program.

In addition to hospital-based services, Valley Medical Center provides a network of more than 40 primary care, urgent care, and specialty clinics throughout South King County. Valley Medical Center also offers health education and programs supporting underserved and vulnerable populations. As a community-owned hospital, Valley Medical Center remains deeply connected to the growing healthcare needs of South King County residents.