John C. Fremont Healthcare District Measure N Fact Sheet

John C. Fremont Hospital is the only hospital in Mariposa County which provides 24-hour access to emergency care to county residents and visitors to the area, including Yosemite National Park. John C. Fremont also provides clinic, home health, physical therapy, hospice, long-term care, imaging and lab services, and emergency-based helicopter transport services. Built almost 70 years ago, the hospital is outdated and nearing the end of its useful life. Following the Northridge earthquake, many California hospitals suffered significant damage and were forced to suspend some or all services. In response, the state legislature approved Senate Bill 1953 requiring every California hospital to meet stringent seismic safety standards, or risk closure. John C. Fremont Hospital does not meet those standards.

With that in mind, and after several years of extensive research and planning, on July 22, 2020 the hospital board requested that the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors place a 1% sales tax measure on the November ballot. If passed, Measure N will provide the funds needed to upgrade the facilities by building a new, seismically safe hospital for the community. On August 4, 2020 the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance for the November 2020 ballot.

The official 75-word ballot question reads as follows:

"Shall Ordinance No. 2020-1154 of the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors, enacting a 1 percent transaction and use (sales) tax providing approximately $2,600,000 annually, to maintain local access to emergency and life-saving medical care; upgrade John C. Fremont Hospital medical facilities to meet current earthquake safety and building standards; and renovate and maintain facilities essential to attract and retain qualified doctors, nurses and specialists, until ended by voters, be approved?"

Measure N will:
Address current earthquake safety and building code standards;
Ensure that our hospital and its Emergency Room stay open and fully operational to provide essential medical care to county residents and visitors;
Expand and modernize the Emergency Room to reduce wait times, create space for large diagnostic equipment, and otherwise improve patient care;
Replace outdated medical equipment with modern, state-of-the-art technology, including both diagnostic and support equipment to meet the operating needs of the hospital;
Build facilities essential to attract and retain the highly qualified medical professionals needed to serve the community.

Ballots will be mailed the week of October 5, 2020. Election Day is November 3, 2020.

To learn more about Measure N, please visit the John C. Fremont Healthcare District website at www.jcf-hospital.com. If you have questions about the District's programs, services, budget, and/or facility needs, please contact Therese Williams therese.williams@jcf-hospital.com.