PORT ANGELES – Olympic Medical Center’s thriftiest commissioner will lead the hospital into what may be its financially tightest times – and he’s talking about raising taxes.
Jim Cammack, unanimously picked as president of the board of commissioners by his six fellow panelists, called 2008 “a challenging year. That’s very definite.”
Cammack said that voters may be asked to approve a tax increase.
“That’s one of the first things we’re going to be discussing at one of the first retreats we are going to be having this month,” he said.
Cammack said OMC’s levy is the lowest among public hospital districts across the state.
He declined to comment on the formal mediation that will start next month between OMC and Service Employees International Union Local 1199 NW on a new three-year contract with nurses, housekeepers and maintenance workers.
Still, he said, the hospital won’t rely only on voters’ or employees’ generosity.
“I’m not going on the street corner with a bell,” Cammack said, “but I’m talking in terms of looking for grants.
“We’ve got some tremendous doctors and some things going on that I think we can qualify for. I think we just need to look a little harder.”
