Hospital passes $22 million budget

Hospital District 6 commissioners passed a budget Monday night that anticipates changes in fee structures, increased employment, new doctors and a razor thin 0.1-percent net margin, basically break even.

“We’re going to start conservative and expect to get better, not worse,” said Chief Executive Officer Debbie Bigelow. She presented the budget that she said was conservative in expecting $22.3 million in net patient revenues for Coulee Medical Center.

The budget news was mixed with announcements of new doctors coming on board, possibly including a new surgeon. And clinic visit numbers were boosted from expected resulting business, plus one more as-yet unrecruited doctor.

The budget included a maximum-allowed tax boost, the increase all coming from new construction value. The asked-for levy totals $160,000, an $11,000 increase.