Stanton County Hospital struggles to keep up costs as mill levy increase fails

STANTON COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW) -- Across the state, Kansans voted on special ballot measures like school bonds and tax issues. Stanton County voters rejected a mill levy increase that would have helped fund its hospital.

Stanton County Hospital is a medical hub for more than half a dozen other counties, including across the state line into Colorado.

CEO Camille Davidson called the outcome "disappointing." She added that they aren't sure how to compete with rising costs and inflation without increased revenue.

Stanton County's mill levy has been at 17 mills since 2023. But as property values in that area of the state decrease, that number generates less and less money every year. The hospital wanted to raise the mill levy to 18.5 mills to compete with increasing costs.

"All little hospital