The Bowie Memorial Hospital Board of Directors met Wednesday afternoon to consider requesting an election that would ask voters to create a hospital tax district.

The board voted to proceed with preparing a petition that will be presented to the Montague County Commissioner’s Court seeking an election for an .1850 cent proposed tax per $100 in property value that would fund a hospital district. The boundaries for the proposed district will encompass only Bowie Independent School District. There was discussion about including other areas, but the board opted to stay with the local school district. About 15 people were in attendance.

The hospital district would like to have the commissioners add the election to the Nov. 3 general election ballot. It would be the fall of 2016 before any newly formed district could start collecting taxes if the proposal was approved by voters.

Bowie Memorial Hospital has been struggling for the past five years after the failure of a previous tax district elections that included Bowie ISD and Forestburg ISD. Hospitals officials have said it is uncertain if the hospital can remain open without some immediate financial action and closure is a possibility.

For full coverage of this meeting please watch for your Saturday Bowie News.