Watsonville Community Hospital Measure N

On April 2, the elections departments of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties certified that Measure N, which was put before voters on March 5, 2024, passed with 68.26% of voters approving the measure.

In 2022 our community rallied together and local leaders secured special state legislation to save Watsonville Community Hospital from being closed down, but the facility itself is old and must be upgraded to improve healthcare in our community. Measure N provides for a 30-year, $116 million general obligation (G.O.) bond program to renovate Watsonville Community Hospital and improve services to our community. It will allow the hospital to modernize and expand our facility and improve emergency care and other healthcare services.

In addition, the hospital currently spends $3 million every year in lease payments to a third-party owner, based in Alabama. Measure N will now allow our community to purchase the hospital building and land, through the locally-controlled, accountable Pajaro Valley Health Care District (PVHCD). Once that happens, it will bring the $3 million per year back to our community, to be spent on supporting patient care.

Funding will not happen immediately. Following the formal approval of the election results by the PVHCD board at its April meeting, the bond process will begin shortly thereafter, and the earliest some initial funds might be available is estimated to be about the end of 2024 or early 2025.

We are excited to continue working collaboratively with our community to ensure everyone’s hard-earned dollars are spent in the best possible way to deliver the highest quality healthcare to our community. 

Here’s how Measure N will invest in our future:

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Expanding and renovating the emergency room, nearly doubling its size, to provide better emergency care and meet the growing needs of our community
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Upgrading imaging systems including X-rays, MRI, and CT scanners
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Purchasing the Watsonville Community Hospital property to save $3 million per year in rent payments, which could then be used for doctors, nurses and enhancing healthcare services
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Repairing or replacing several aged building systems, such as plumbing; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, and replacing the aging roof
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Modernizing the healthcare facility to provide additional services, so patients don’t have to travel to other hospitals to get the care they need

Fiscal accountability:

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All funds can only be used to upgrade and improve our local hospital and access to local healthcare
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No funds can be taken by the state
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Independent citizen oversight and public spending disclosures are required

For More Information:
Email us at [email protected]