Q: What is the special district ballot initiative?
A: The ballot initiative would ensure the annual salary and compensation package for any executive, manager or administrator of either El Camino Hospital or the El Camino Hospital District shall not exceed twice the salary of the governor—at this time, approximately $348,000 a year.
Q: Who initiated the special district ballot initiative?
A: A committee of healthcare providers who serve the patients at El Camino Hospital, and taxpayers in the District. The measure simply ensures taxpayer money is used as intended: on the healthcare of local residents, and not to pay millions to executives.
Q: Why was the ballot initiative created?
A: The non-profit El Camino Hospital accepted over $16 million in taxpayer support from local residents. Yet, the hospital now claims it is losing money and wants to eliminate some pay and benefits for its nurses and staff. The measure ensures taxpayer money is used as intended: on the healthcare of local residents, and not to pay millions in salaries to executives. These public resources should be used to meet the heightened need for high-quality, cost-competitive services to improve the health and well-being of the District’s residents.
Q: If the ballot measure passes, what happens with the money?
A: The District will be required to put the money to uses other than executives’ salaries, like patient care.
Q: Can I sign the petition if I live outside of Santa Clara County?
A: No, only signatures of Santa Clara County residents who live in Special District will count.
Q: Do I have to be a registered voter for my signature to count?
A: Yes, you must be registered to vote and a resident of the Special District.
Q: How much do El Camino Hospital Executives make in salary and bonuses?
A: The total compensation package for the former CEO Kenneth Graham who served until June 2011 was more than $1.1 million. The current CEO Tomi Ryba is paid $695,000 per year with the opportunity to make an additional 30 percent in bonuses. In 2009, six of its executives earned between $400,000 and $650, 000.
Q: What is the industry standard for Hospital Executive salaries and compensation packages?
A: The CEO of Valley Medical Hospital—the closest public hospital to El Camino—makes a salary of $250,000 per year. Valley Medical is twice the size of El Camino and is a Level 1 trauma hospital—one of only a few in Northern California.
The CEOs of O’Connor Hospital and St. Louise Hospital made $391,145 and $375,024 respectively in total compensation.
Q: Does El Camino Hospital receive public tax dollars?
A: Yes, a Grand Jury report from last year stated:
“There is a lack of transparency with regard to where the El Camino Hospital District spends tax revenues…It is difficult, if not impossible, for the public to determine precisely how its tax money are being spent, if the monies are being spent at all.”
This measure ensures taxpayer money can be used for the healthcare of local residents, rather than to enrich a handful of hospital executives.
Q: What is the difference between the Hospital and the Hospital District?
A: The El Camino Hospital District Board of Directors oversees El Camino Hospital—the District’s formal boundaries encompass the cities of Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, a majority of Sunnyvale and a small portion of Cupertino as well as some adjacent unincorporated areas.
The five District Board members also comprise the governing board of El Camino Hospital, which manages El Camino Hospital operations.
Q: If the special district ballot initiative passes, when will it go into effect?
A: 10 days after the November 6, 2012 election.
Paid for by SEIU United Healthcare Workers West Political Action Committee