What does "no estimated change in the current tax rate of 7 mills" mean?

It means that there is no projected change in the current tax rate of 7 mills for this bond renewal. Estimates are conservative and they have been accurate in the past for previous capital projects including renovating intensive care units and women and children's units, upgrading technology and building a Cancer Center.

The hospital has been good stewards of the community's investment.

What will happen if the RENEWAL is approved?

If approved, SMH will build a new state-of-the-art Emergency Room facility. It will expand ER space by 57% and provide faster quality care.

In addition, the funds will add more inpatient beds to the hospital on a second floor unit of the Emergency Room. Private rooms are the "standard of care" in hospitals around that country and our community has asked for them. These private rooms will also help faster transfers from the ER to an inpatient room and reduce wait times in the ER for those patients waiting for an inpatient bed. Freeing up an ER bed also helps reduce wait times for those patients who are waiting to be treated in the ER and then released to go home.

The addition of a larger ER is being driven by growth in the community. SMH is planning now to accommodate future patients. St. Tammany parish has grown 24% in the last 10 years and more growth is expected. It takes time to design and build a state of the art ER and SMH must start now to meet community needs and continue to provide quality care.

How will this proposal appear on the ballot?

HOSPITAL SERVICE DISTRICT NO. 2 PROPOSITION (BOND)

Summary: Authority to issue not exceeding $25,000,000 of not exceeding 25 year General Obligation Bonds of the District for the purpose of constructing, acquiring, extending and improving a new facility to provide state of the art emergency room services, cardiology services, and other patient care services, and acquiring equipment and furnishings therefore, converting existing semi-private rooms into private rooms.

Shall St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 2 ( the "District"), incur debt and issue bonds to the amount of not exceeding Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000), in one or more series, to run not exceeding twenty-five (25) years from the date thereof, with interest at a rate not exceeding seven per centum (7%) per annum, for the purpose of constructing, acquiring, extending and Improving a new facility to provide state of the art emergency room services, Cardiology services, and other patient care services, and acquiring equipment and furnishings therefore, and converting existing semi-private rooms into private rooms, which bonds will be general obligations of the District and will be payable from ad valorem taxes to be levied and collected in the manner provided by Article VI, Section 33 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974 and statutory authority supplemental thereto, with no estimated increase in the millage rate to be levied in the first year of issue above the 7 mills currently being levied to pay General Obligation Bonds of the District.

A vote "yes" is approving this proposal. A vote "no" is not approving this proposal.