(KMZA)--Community Memorial Healthcare, in Marysville, is gathering signatures on a petition supporting a public vote during the November general election on a countywide half-cent sales tax for the hospital.

According to a news release from CMH, the hospital hopes to gather at least 350 signatures on a petition to present to the Marshall County Commission before the end of June to give time for a public campaign before the November 6th election.

To sign the petition, residents can visit the CMH web site at cmhcare.org or can sign a petition at the main hospital campus or any of its clinic locations.

 If approved by voters, the sales tax would begin January 1st, 2019 and be in effect for 10 years.  The sales tax is expected to raise about $650,000 a year.

The release says the hospital saw operating losses in 2017 of about $1.5 million, which included $1.3 million in uncompensated care.  

Other reasons for decreased revenue include the Kansas Legislature’s decision not to expand Medicaid to cover more uninsured adults and an annual $400,000 reduction in Medicare reimbursements passed by Congress a few years ago.

Community Healthcare representatives approached the commissioners in 2016 and 2017 to ask for a countywide vote on the sales tax but were turned down both times.  A motion to place the question on the ballot was made both times but died due to the lack of a second.