(KMZA)--There will be no public vote this November in Marshall County on a proposed countywide half-cent sales tax to benefit Community Memorial Hospital in Marysville.

Hospital officials say two recent motions to place the issue on the ballot failed to receive the approval of the Marshall County Commission.  

Commissioner Dave Baier initially made a motion to place a10-year, half-cent sales tax for the hospital on the ballot at the July 23rd meeting, and then a motion at the July 30th meeting for a 5-year, half-cent sales tax.  But both motions failed due to the lack of second.  Commissioners Bob Connell and Lynn Feldhausen declined their support.

Community Memorial Healthcare CEO Curtis Hawkinson says he’s disappointed by the outcome, adding he had hoped the Board would see the long-term economic impact of local healthcare to the community and allowed a public vote.   He said the hospital will continue to dialogue with the public, and advocate for candidates who support the hospital in the upcoming primary and general elections.     

Hawkinson says the hospital was seeking the sales tax support because of several years of deficits, brought on by uncompensated care, the level of uninsured or under-insured patients and the state’s unwillingness to expand Medicaid.

The hospital submitted a petition in June containing more than 460 signatures in support of a public vote on a sales tax for the hospital.

The two commissioners who didn’t support placing the sales tax issue on the ballot said they did not receive positive personal responses on the issue, questioned the legitimacy of the petition and did not feel enough financial information had been given by the hospital.