Tahoe Forest board approves FY2026 budget, 5% rate increase and three‑year capital plan

The Tahoe Forest Hospital District Board of Directors on Oct. 26 approved the district’s fiscal year 2026 operating budget and a three‑year capital plan, and amended the budget to include a 5% increase to the system chargemaster rates effective August 2025.

CFO Crystal Felix presented the finance package and the board voted 4–0 to approve the budget and then to approve the three‑year capital plan (fiscal years 2027–2029). The board’s action also ratified an amendment to the budget to include a 5% rate increase; the amended motion passed on a second roll call, 4–0.

Why it matters: The budget and capital plan set near‑term rates, spending and multi‑year infrastructure priorities for Tahoe Forest as state and federal reimbursement policies — and related financial risks — remain unsettled. The finance team described the FY2026 plan as conservative on some revenue assumptions while preserving funds for planned construction and equipment purchases.

Felix told the board the FY2026 gross revenue projection is $765,400,000, with deductions (contractual adjustments, charity care and bad debt) of about $415,500,000, producing total operating revenue of roughly $374,300,000. Operating…