(KMZA)--Marshall Co voters will decide in November whether to approve a proposed sales tax for Community Memorial Healthcare in Marysville.

At the request of representatives of CMH, the Marshall County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to allow residents to vote on a proposed 10-year, half-cent countywide retailers sales tax during the November 6 general election.

The wording of the ballot question will be decided in the near future.

It was fourth year in a row the hospital had requested the Commission place a sales tax proposal on the ballot, failing to gain approval the past three years.

Community Memorial Healthcare CEO Curtis Hawkinson said rural hospitals across Kansas are struggling financially and 80 percent of the critical access hospitals in the state, such as CMH, receive some form of tax support.

CMH Board members said they feel it is important for the hospital to keep moving forward with technology and competitive wages.

Brown County voters during a May 21 special election defeated by a 29-vote margin a proposed 10-year, half-cent countywide retailers sales tax for health care services in the county. 80 percent of the sales tax proceeds would have gone to the Hiawatha Community Hospital and 20 percent to the city of Horton for health care services in the southern Brown County community.