Two weeks from today, candidates won’t be the only things on the ballot: We’re also being asked to approve a major bond package to bring Parkland Hospital up to speed, 28 years after the last bond program for the hospital was approved. We asked former neighborhood councilman Veletta Lill, a supporter of the bond program, to discuss the issues…
"What do Catholic Charities, American Council of Jewish Women, the Citizen’s Council, the LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the Dallas County Medical Society, the NAACP-Dallas Chapter, and the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce have in common? Not a lot, but they do all agree on one thing — we need to build a new Parkland Hospital. All of these institutions and many more have endorsed a bond program for Parkland.
"Dallas County faces an important decision this year in the local elections — on Nov. 4, voters will be asked to approve a $747 million bond package for Parkland Hospital, unanimously approved by Parkland Hospital’s Board of Managers and the Dallas County Commissioner’s Court. The monies will help fund a new 862-bed adult inpatient hospital (including a Level 1 Trauma Center and Burn Center), outpatient center, office buildings and parking. The hospital will be a public/ private partnership with the philanthropic community committing $150 million of the total cost. The hospital will also contribute $350 million of cash reserves to the project.
"The first bond program in 28 years for Parkland Hospital, the current facility is 54 percent undersized, out-of-code, and has been renovated to it maximum potential. Any future renovations would result in a 40 percent loss of beds and cost more than building a new facility.
"Fast forward almost 20 years to 2025 when the region’s population is projected to double. We need a new Parkland that will continue to serve and grow with Dallas County. A healthy county relies on a hospital that can keep up with the times and Parkland, named by U.S. News & World Report as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for 15 consecutive years, is worth the investment.
"I urge you to vote FOR Parkland on November 4, and say yes to the public health provider, safety net hospital, academic medical center, regional resource for disaster preparedness, major trauma and burn center, and innovator in community health and wellness for Dallas County. The proposition will appear at the end of the ballot so PLEASE remember Dallas County’s future — lives depend on it!"
– Veletta Lill
