Hospital board approves budget, benefits

At a brief meeting in the basement of St. Luke Medical Clinic, the Hospital District Number One board of directors unanimously approved its budget and a new employee benefits package.

The board decided to keep its mill levy the same because the district’s assessed valuation rose from an estimated $58,970,746 to $62,978,511.

The district’s net expenditures are budgeted to increase from $10,149,818 to $11,439,341, which is less than the 2013 to 2014 increase.

The employee benefits package shifted slightly to lower health insurance premiums, in exchange for higher copays and deductibles. The board reported positive reactions from the staff that had been informed of the change in the package.