Wishard's future is in voter's hands

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Sunday was the last day to vote early in Marion County before Tuesday's Election Day The biggest issue is the Wishard Referendum; which will determine the future of Wishard Hospital.

"On Tuesday, please vote yes for Wishard," Marion County Health & Hospital Corp CEO Matthew Gutwein said giving his final pitch for a brand new, $754 million Wishard Hospital. "Wishard is important to this community, that it serves a vital role, that it must be maintained."

It's a project he says is getting wide support as witnessed by a rally on the city's east side Saturday. Gutwein hopes voters on Tuesday will approve $600 million in public financing. Wishard already has $154 million for the down payment.

"There's never been a public project where $150 million, twenty percent of the total cost, was saved in advance. That means we have exercised a level of fiscal prudence and responsibility," Gutwein explained.

But 24-Hour News 8 spoke on the phone with State Senator Scott Schneider who is concerned about a possible tax hike.

"If in fact there's a default in or reduction in the revenue, a loss somehow of revenue of something changes in their ability to pay, then the taxpayers would be on the hook for this. It's essentially the taxpayers are signing a 600 plus million dollar loan for Wishard," Schneider said.

Schneider sites projects like the state library and Lucas Oil stadium, both of which he says are costing taxpayers.

He said Wishard could affect property tax caps, "There's really no protection for the taxpayers and we just want to make sure, I want to make sure, that people understand the risk. You're essentially co-signing a loan on Tuesday with a vote yes."

But Gutwein says there's no need for concern, "The people who have studied this hard agree that we can do this project in a fiscally prudent manner without any tax increase."

Gutwein says the current facility is in critical condition and if the referendum doesn't pass, Wishard would begin shutting down. If it passes, he says the project would begin next week.