BOULDER CITY QUESTION

Voters in Boulder City will have four ballot questions to consider on Election Day, including one to create a tax district to fund the city's hospital and another to sell land to fund the city's share of a new water pipeline at Lake Mead.

The hospital question was put forth by Clark County officials to gauge public support for the creation of a Boulder City Hospital District and a new property tax that would pay for the expansion of the medical facility.

If approved, the county would seek legislation to allow the new tax of 15 cents per $100 of assessed valuation on property in Boulder City.

Revenue from the tax would improve and expand the 35-year-old facility and help cover financial losses that have averaged more than $500,000 a year since 2000. Proponents argue that without the money, the hospital could be forced to close in four years. Opponents argue that the facility's true financial condition is not known because hospital officials have not supplied documentation, including records they are required to submit to the state each year.

The land sale question concerns 46 acres of city-owned commercial property west of Yucca Street, which is expected to fetch enough money to help pay the city's share of a new Southern Nevada Water Authority intake deep in drought-stricken Lake Mead.

Proponents of the land sale insist that without the money the city may have to raise its water rates by as much as 40 percent.

Opponents argue that other options exist to pay for the intake and warn that the property could be rezoned to allow residential development, among other concerns.

The other two questions on the ballot in Boulder City involve possible changes to the city charter.

The first question asks voters if they favor making the charter "gender neutral" by, for example, replacing the word "he" with the words "he or she" throughout the document.

The second question asks voters if they want amend the charter to bar the City Council from holding closed-door meetings to fire or review the conduct of a city officer.

Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0350.