Hospital Proposition 1 FAQs – Nov. 3, 2026
Pend Oreille County Public Hospital District No. 1 is asking voters to consider Proposition 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. The proposition would provide up to $51 million in bonds to help expand and renovate Newport Community Hospital. This FAQ answers common questions about why the project is needed, what it would include, how much it would cost, the estimated property tax impact, and how it could improve healthcare services in Pend Oreille County.
Hospital Proposition 1 is designed to expand and modernize Newport Community Hospital to serve Pend Oreille County for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Newport Community Hospital need to expand?
Newport Community Hospital is operating at or near capacity in several areas. Much of the hospital was built in 1958 and 1993 and was designed for inpatient care, not today’s outpatient services, technology, and patient flow.
The hospital also has limited space in several departments, making it harder to add services and meet the needs of our growing community.
A 2025 market analysis and the District’s Community Health Needs Assessment identified services that local residents sometimes travel to Spokane or Coeur d’Alene to receive.
What would the project include?
The proposed project would:
- Expand the Emergency Department from 7 beds to up to 12 beds, including rooms for patients experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
- Add up to 3 operating suites to increase access to surgery. The hospital currently has one operating room and one procedure room, both of which are at capacity.
- Add an MRI suite inside the hospital.
- Expand and update the Laboratory, including space for microbiology.
- Move Physical Therapy to a larger, 9,000-square-foot space with a dedicated entrance and patient parking.
- Add space for outpatient services, including infusion treatments, oncology, pain management, cardiology procedures, and other specialty services.
- Move the main hospital entrance so it faces Newport Health Center and provides easier access to lab, imaging, and outpatient services. The new entrance also expands the waiting area so families will have more privacy and space while they wait to see loved ones. The covered walkway will also make it easier for elderly and frail patients during bad weather
Are you building an entirely new hospital?
NO. Most of the existing hospital would remain. The plan is to remove a large section of the hospital built around 1958 and replace it with a new three-story addition of up to 36,000 square feet. About 2,600 square feet of current Physical Therapy space and 2,600 square feet of mechanical space would also be removed.
How much will the entire project cost?
The estimated total project cost is $55 million.
The proposed funding includes:
- $51 million from the bond
- $3.5 million from District cash and leases
- $500,000 from donations and other sources
The District intends to keep the total project cost within the $55 million budget.
How much would the bond cost taxpayers?
Newport Community Hospital is locally owned and operated by the residents of Public Hospital District No. 1.
The estimated bond tax rate is $1.47 per $1,000 of assessed property value within Pend Oreille County Public Hospital District No. 1.
Estimated monthly property tax increases are:
| Assessed Property Value | Estimated Monthly Increase |
|---|---|
| $200,000 | $25 |
| $300,000 | $37 |
| $400,000 | $49 |
The proposed bond would be up to $51 million and would be repaid over a period of up to 30 years. The estimated interest rate is 4.75% to 5.5%. Actual tax rates may vary.
Can property taxpayers receive a medical bill credit?
YES. Pend Oreille County Public Hospital District No. 1 taxpayers may apply for up to $750 per year in credits toward qualifying Newport Hospital and Health Services medical bills and Seeber’s Pharmacy prescription drug costs.
The credit is only available to District property taxpayers and is based on bond-related property taxes paid during the same year. Eligibility and program requirements apply.
How will the District control project costs?
The District is using a Progressive Design-Build approach. This brings the design and construction teams together early.
The team will make design decisions based on actual construction costs, material availability, and the project schedule. Costs will continue to be reviewed as the design moves forward.
The project has a Guaranteed Maximum Price of $55 million. The budget also includes money for unexpected demolition conditions, changes in material and labor costs, design changes, and other project needs.
Why not make smaller improvements instead?
The District considered whether smaller projects could address some of the hospital’s needs.
Some areas could be improved on their own, but that would not solve the larger space and infrastructure problems. Expanding one department could also put more pressure on other areas that still have limited space.
Completing improvements in separate phases could also cost more over time. Each project may require its own design, permitting, construction, and temporary relocations. Some improvements could also need to be changed or redone as other parts of the hospital are expanded. The proposed project addresses several needs together, allowing the District to plan the improvements as one connected project, make better use of construction dollars, and reduce disruption to hospital operations.
What happens if the bond does not pass?
If the bond does not pass, the proposed expansion will not move forward. The hospital will remain in its current space, with the same space, facility, technology, and capacity limitations we face today.
Without the bond, the District will not have the funding needed to expand the hospital and address these needs. The community’s need for additional healthcare services will continue, but the hospital will not have the space or capacity to meet that need.
What new or improved services could the project provide?
The expansion would create space for services such as:
- Oncology and other infusion treatments
- Cardiology procedures
- Pain management
- Microbiology
- MRI services inside the hospital
- More surgical availability
- A larger Emergency Department
- Behavioral health safe rooms in the Emergency Department
The project would not necessarily mean every service would begin immediately. The new space would allow the District to add and expand services as community needs, staffing, and other resources allow.
How would the project benefit people in Pend Oreille County?
The project is intended to help residents:
- Receive more care close to home
- Spend less time traveling to Spokane or Coeur d’Alene for some services
- Have better access to emergency and surgical care
- Get faster laboratory and imaging results
- Have access to more specialty outpatient services
- Find their way through the hospital more easily
The District also expects the project to support local jobs and economic activity. The current estimate is 20 to 25 additional jobs when the project is completed.
Will the hospital stay open during construction?
The project is being designed so Newport Community Hospital can continue operating during construction and renovation. Moving the main entrance and changing the layout will help the hospital continue providing care while construction is underway.
When would construction be completed?
If the bond passes and funding is secured, the project is expected to take approximately three years to complete.
How were the project priorities chosen?
The District used several sources to identify community needs, including:
- A 2025 market analysis that looked at healthcare use, population trends, and services residents receive outside the area
- Input from local healthcare providers and department leaders
- The District’s 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment
Why is this important for our community?
Newport Community Hospital has served the Pend Oreille River Valley for more than 100 years. This is your local hospital. It is owned by the community and governed locally.
The proposed expansion would update aging hospital space, increase capacity, and create room for more healthcare services. The goal is to help keep more healthcare close to home for people in Pend Oreille County.
The hospital is also an important part of our local economy. The hospital provides living-wage jobs and supports local businesses through employee spending and other purchases. The project is expected to create about 20 to 25 additional jobs when it’s initially completed with more jobs added as services grow.
Is someone available to answer my questions about the proposed project and the bond?
YES. If you have additional questions, or would like more information, please email us at [email protected].
Proposition 1: Official Ballot Language
The following is the official ballot language for Proposition 1 as it will appear on the November 2026 ballot.
The Commission of Pend Oreille County Public Hospital District No. 1 adopted Resolution No. 2026-06 concerning a proposition to finance improvements to Newport Community Hospital. This proposition would authorize the District to expand and renovate Newport Community Hospital, including relocating the main entrance and admitting area and expanding imaging, laboratory, rehabilitative therapy, surgical, emergency, trauma, and behavioral health care services, together with other related capital improvements deemed necessary or advisable by the Commission; issue no more than $51,000,000 of general obligation bonds maturing within 30 years; and levy annual excess property taxes to repay the bonds, all as provided in Resolution No. 2026-06.
