Proposed Hospital Expansion FAQs

On April 23, 2026 the Commission of Pend Oreille County Public Hospital District No. 1 adopted Resolution No. 2026-02 concerning a proposition to finance hospital expansion and renovation to improve access to local healthcare services.

Proposition 1: Hospital Expansion and Renovation Bonds

The Commission of Pend Oreille County Public Hospital District No. 1 adopted Resolution No. 2026-02 concerning a proposition to finance improvements to Newport 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. 2026-02.

Community Information Sessions

Learn the facts about Hospital Proposition 1 by attending a community information session. The following four educational sessions are provided by Pend Oreille County Public Hospital District No. 1.

  • Thursday, June 18: 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Ponderosa Room, Newport Community Hospital, 714 W. Pine St., Newport
  • Thursday, June 25: 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Ponderosa Room, Newport Community Hospital, 714 W. Pine St., Newport
  • Wednesday, July 8: 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Camas Center for Community Wellness, 1821 LeClerc Road N., Cusick
  • Wednesday, July 15: 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. VIRTUAL MEETING (link will be posted here the day of the session)

Frequently Asked Questions

This list of frequently asked questions will provide factual information about the bond appearing on the August 4, 2026 ballot. We will continue to update the list over the coming months. If you have questions you’d like to see listed on this FAQ, please email [email protected].

Why is this bond needed right now?

Newport Community Hospital is currently operating at or near capacity, which limits the ability to expand services and address projected community healthcare needs.

As a public hospital district, the District has limited non-voted debt capacity. Existing funding sources would only support a portion of the proposed project and would not address system-wide space and infrastructure constraints. Completing only partial improvements could create additional pressure on departments that are already operating at capacity.

Several facility limitations contribute to the current need:

  • Lab – An expansion and modernization of the lab’s infrastructure will support new laboratory technologies and increased service opportunities like microbiology.
  • Emergency – We see nearly 10,000 patients a year in our small, 7-bed Emergency Department. The ED expansion will provide additional beds as well as safe rooms for patients in behavioral health crisis.
  • Surgery – Newport Community Hospital currently has one operating room and one procedure room. Both are at capacity, which affects access to surgical care. The surgery expansion would provide additional operating suites, creating additional access for procedures close to home.
  • Rehab Therapies – We consistently see waiting lists in Physical Therapy due to space constraints. Providing more space will allow our patients to receive services quicker without the need to travel 45 minutes to an hour for services.
  • Imaging – We’d like to bring an MRI in-house; currently, the hospital leases a mobile MRI trailer that sits outside the hospital. This is not ideal during inclement weather, as patients must walk outside and through the parking lot to the trailer. Providing the service inside the building improves the patient experience and is a better use of District resources (leasing the MRI also costs more).
  • New services – The expansion would allow the hospital to pave the way for new services our community needs. Examples include infusion therapies (e.g. chemotherapy, oncology), pain management procedures, cardiology procedures, and other specialty outpatient services.

Why doesn’t the hospital work for today’s healthcare needs?

The current hospital was built in 1958 and 1993. It was designed for inpatient care (overnight stays). It was not designed for outpatient flow, infusion services, technology, or telehealth integration.

What will the bond cover?

As outlined in Resolution No. 2026-02, the bond would authorize the expansion and renovation of Newport Community Hospital to address facility capacity, infrastructure, and access needs.

Specifically, the project would:

  • Replace the existing 1958-era building with a new three-story addition and relocate the main entrance to improve patient access and internal flow between services.
  • Expand surgical services by providing additional operating suites, creating additional access for procedures close to home.
  • Renovate and expand the Emergency Department, including updated treatment space, additional beds, and the addition of designated behavioral health rooms.
  • Increase space for imaging, laboratory, and rehabilitation therapy services to address current space and infrastructure constraints.
  • Provide additional space for outpatient services, including infusion services, within the hospital campus.

The bond would also cover related design, construction, equipment, incidentals, furniture, and other capital costs deemed necessary or advisable by the Commission.

Do you have data to support the need for an expansion?

YES. The District completed a market assessment in 2025 that included analysis of demographic trends, service utilization, and patient origin data. The assessment identified that a portion of residents currently travel outside the district, including to Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, to access certain healthcare services. These findings are consistent with the District’s 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment, which also identified gaps in access to specific services locally.

The data indicate opportunities to expand certain services within the community based on current utilization patterns and projected population needs. In-district availability of these services would allow more patients to receive care locally rather than traveling outside the area. The proposed expansion and renovation are intended to align facility capacity with these identified service needs.

Would the expansion and renovation bring new or improved local services to Newport?

YES. Services evaluated for expansion include:

  • Oncology and other infusions
  • Cardiology
  • Pain management
  • Microbiology (for faster lab results)
  • MRI suite in-house
  • More surgical availability
    • Up to 3 additional operating rooms
  • Larger emergency room space
    • Up to 12 beds (currently 7 beds)
    • Addition of behavioral health rooms

What are some of the local benefits of the proposed expansion?

  • Pend Oreille County Public Hospital District #1 residents may apply for up to $750/year in credits annually towards NHHS medical services and Seeber’s Pharmacy prescription drugs based on property taxes paid for the bond during the same year.
  • Avoids 45-mile trip to urban centers (i.e. gas savings)
  • Keeps care close to home
  • Improves access and convenience
  • Faster results
  • Improved patient flow (wayfinding)
  • Job growth (immediate = 20-25 additional jobs)
  • Local economic impact growth

    Are you building an entirely new hospital?

    No, just a large section (up to 36,000 square feet). The plan is to remove the circa 1958 section of the old hospital and build a three-story addition. This would relocate the main entrance of the hospital to directly face Newport Health Center.

    Why is the proposed main entrance of the hospital changing?

    By flipping the main entrance to align with Newport Health Center (primary care clinic), patients would have easier access to hospital services like lab, imaging, and outpatient services. This thoughtful design also allows the hospital to remain operational during construction and renovation.

    What is the timeline for the expansion completion should the bond pass?

    Approximately 3 years once funding is secured.

    What is the impact to Pend Oreille County Public Hospital District #1 taxpayers?

    • Cost to Pend Oreille County PHD #1 taxpayers: $1.47 per $1,000 assessed property value (estimate)
    • Bond Terms: $51 Million, up to 30-year term (estimated 4.75% – 5.5% interest)
      • A property with assessed value of $200,000 = $25 estimated monthly property tax increase
      • A property with assessed value of $300,000 = $37 estimated monthly property tax increase
      • A property with assessed value of $400,000 = $49 estimated monthly property tax increase
      • A property with assessed value of $500,000 = $61 estimated monthly property tax increase

    If the bond passes, can those property taxes be credited against NHHS medical bills?

    • YES. Pend Oreille County Public Hospital District #1 residents may apply for up to $750/year in credits annually towards NHHS medical services and Seeber’s Pharmacy prescription drugs based on property taxes paid for the bond during the same year.
    Conceptual rendering of the proposed Newport Community Hospital expansion. Final design, layout, and features are subject to change.