WAKEENEY, Kan. (AP) Voters in a northwest Kansas county have approved a 1 percent sales tax to help their local hospital meet expenses.
The Hays Daily News reports voters in Trego County returned nearly 1,400 of the 2,100 ballots mailed out.
A count Tuesday showed the tax to benefit Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital in WaKeeney approved with roughly 68 percent of the vote.
CEO Harold Courtois says he’s pleased that residents recognized the needs of the rural hospital. He said he favored a sales tax over an increase in property taxes to raise the necessary funds.
Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital has 25 beds for critical care and 37 for long-term patients. It also has a home health agency that serves five counties.
The sales tax will take effect July 1.
