Proposition 1: Hospital leader answers common questions
Published 1:30 am Thursday, October 29, 2026
Since Proposition 1 returned to the November ballot, I’ve been hearing a lot of questions from Sky and Snohomish Valley residents. I welcome every one of them. Here are the three questions I hear most often.
What does it mean that EvergreenHealth Monroe is a full-service hospital?
First, it’s helpful to know that EvergreenHealth Monroe is a public hospital district, which is formed and supported by the residents within that district. Similar to a fire district or school district, EvergreenHealth Monroe is governed by a publicly elected Board of Commissioners who are responsible for making sure community health needs are addressed now and for years to come.
EvergreenHealth Monroe is the only full-service hospital between Wenatchee and Everett. Full-service means that it brings the full range of hospital care under one roof: 24/7 emergency and inpatient care, Washington State-designated Level IV trauma care, comprehensive surgical and procedural operations, imaging and lab services, pharmacy, progressive care and telemetry for patients who need closer monitoring, and outpatient services.
For families across Sky and Snohomish Valley, it means essential, high-quality care close to home. And more residents rely on it every year. The number of patients we serve within the district grew from about 30,000 in 2022 to 45,000 in 2025, an increase of nearly 50%. The Emergency Department has 14 treatment rooms and sees 60 to 80 patients a day, on average.
Why build a new hospital instead of updating the one we have?
In making the decision, EvergreenHealth Monroe’s publicly elected Board of Commissioners weighed three paths: renovate, expand or replace.
EvergreenHealth Monroe has been through eight major additions over the years. Many patient rooms were built to older standards. Key building systems have been running for decades, and the campus is hemmed in by railroad tracks and neighboring property. While there are no safety concerns for the current hospital, possible upgrades or expansions are limited.
A replacement hospital, built on the parking area next to the current building, lets us design for the care our community will need in the years ahead: 48 inpatient beds instead of 26, 22 Emergency Department rooms instead of 14 (including behavioral health rooms), and more than twice the surgical capacity. The current hospital and Emergency Department would stay open throughout construction, and there would be no interruptions to our services.
Why are you asking for higher taxes?
EvergreenHealth Monroe’s operating revenue pays for patient care, daily operations and ongoing improvements, including more than $65 million in planned investments for normal upkeep and growth, such as adding new specialty services and replacing outdated equipment.
A replacement hospital is a different scale of project. At an estimated $382 million, it’s beyond what any annual operating budget or short-term loan can cover. The district’s financial analysis found voter-approved bonds to be the least expensive way to pay for it.
The estimated rate is 43.7 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. For a home assessed at $745,000, that’s about $27 per month in the first year, with collection beginning in 2028.
Every bond dollar must go toward costs associated with building the replacement hospital, and the district cannot borrow more than voters approve.
Some are asking why they’re seeing this measure again. In August, Proposition 1 fell short of the 60% supermajority it needs to pass, with only 24% voter turnout. The November measure is unchanged: the same amount for the same purpose.
Remember to drop off your ballot before 8 p.m. on November 3.
Lisa LaPlante, MHA, is the chief administrative officer for Snohomish County Public Hospital District No. 1 (EvergreenHealth Monroe).
