It’s been a nail-biter of a week for supporters of Measure N, the $116 million Watsonville Community Hospital bond, as the measure as been hovering about 2 percentage points above its required target.
As of Monday, March 11, Measure N stood at 68.2 percent of voters in support, when combining results from both Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, remaining above the 66.7 percent needed to pass.
Funds from the bond would purchase the building and land it sits on near the Watsonville Municipal Airport, saving $3 million in rent the hospital pays annually to an Alabama property owner.
In addition, funds will go toward renovations, including for the emergency room, HVAC systems and other areas, as well as purchasing new equipment such as CT scanners and MRI machines.
Watsonville Community Hospital is the closest hospital for roughly 6,500 North Monterey County residents, about 15 or so minutes closer to the next facilities in Salinas. It was saved from closure after last-minute legislation by State Sen. John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, in 2022.
Monterey County’s next vote count update is scheduled for Wednesday, March 13, while Santa Cruz County is set for Tuesday, March 12.
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