Community Support

A: As a Critical Access Hospital and a Level IV Trauma Center, part of our purpose is to stabilize the sickest patients and transfer those who require highly specialized care. But here’s the truth:
👉 Only 6% of patients are transferred — meaning 94% receive their care right here in Holton. That’s an incredibly low transfer rate compared to many rural hospitals.

A: No — Holton Community Hospital is committed to staying open and serving Jackson County. However, without local funding support from this Sales Tax, we may face tough choices that could include reducing services, delaying equipment upgrades, or deferring maintenance. This Sales Tax helps ensure we can keep care local, maintain our facilities, and continue serving our community for years to come.

A: For 87 years, Holton Community Hospital has proudly served Jackson County with no local tax support. But today, the rising costs of materials, maintenance, and labor — combined with lower insurance reimbursements, reductions in Medicaid, and the gaps left by some Medicare Advantage plans — make it harder to keep all our services local. Your Community Support will help us maintain essential care, invest in updated equipment and facility improvements, and keep high-quality healthcare close to home for everyone in our community.

A: A Sales Tax is fairer because everyone who shops in Jackson County contributes — including visitors. According to KDOT an average of about 9000 vehicles pass through Jackson County each day. This spreads the responsibility across our whole community instead of putting all the burden on local homeowners and farmers.

A: For every $100 you spend on taxable goods in Jackson County, you would pay just 25 cents more. As of January 1, 2025, Kansas has removed the state sales tax on groceries and food ingredients meant for home consumption — but local sales taxes, like this one, still apply. Prepared foods, restaurant meals, and non-food items will continue to be taxed at both the state and local level.

A: No — this is a common misconception. The building expansion project was responsibly funded through a $14.6 million loan offered by the USDA’s Rural Development agency, along with more than $2 million raised by the community through our nearly year-long “Embrace the Future” campaign, which began in November 2018. Far from hurting our finances, this investment made it possible to grow services that generate revenue, including expanded Outpatient Clinics, Cardiac-Pulmonary Rehab, and Radiology. The new building also houses the Holton Family Clinic, administration offices, medical records, our business office, Senior Life Solutions, and a community meeting room that’s used daily for staff meetings and public education. This expansion strengthened our ability to serve Jackson County — and your Community Support today helps maintain and build on that growth for the future.

A: No — in fact, the opposite is true. Under our current leadership over the last 10 years, Holton Community Hospital has doubled its annual revenue streams, growing from $22 million a year to $44 million in 2024. Like all Critical Access Hospitals, our business model is unique: we’re required to stay open 24/7 with emergency services, but we face the same rising costs and insurance challenges as larger hospitals — just with fewer patients to help cover those costs. That’s why expanding outpatient services, clinics, and specialty care has been so important to our financial stability. Your Community Support helps us continue to grow these services and protect local healthcare for everyone in Jackson County.

A: one-quarter percent (.25%) countywide retailers’ sales tax, the proceeds of which will be used to support hospital services in Jackson County, Kansas by Rural Health Resources of Jackson Co., Inc. doing business as Holton Community Hospital to which such proceeds shall be paid. The collection of such sales tax will commence on January 1, 2026, and terminate ten (10) years thereafter, all pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 12-187 et seq.

Funds will help maintain vital services like emergency care, surgery, imaging, and mental health programs — and will be used for critical equipment costs, technology upgrades, and to ensure safe, modern care for our community.

A: If approved, this Sales Tax will be in place for 10 years, at which point Jackson County voters will have the chance to renew it.

A: You can show your Community Support by casting your vote during the November 2025 General Election. Make sure you’re registered to vote and know where to go on Election Day — or request a mail-in ballot if you prefer. Every vote helps protect local healthcare, maintain vital services, and keep quality care close to home for Jackson County. Visit myvoteinfo.voteks.org to check your registration status and find your polling place, or call the Jackson County Clerk’s Office at (785) 364-2891 if you have questions.