Holy Cross requests $25 million; Taos County agrees to send support letter

Representatives of Holy Cross Medical Center presented a capital-outlay request asking Taos County to provide a support letter and serve as fiscal agent on a $25,000,000 request to expand primary-care, pediatrics, obstetrics and oncology capacity.

Holy Cross said the hospital is operating at or near capacity and recently treated nearly 100 patients within a 24-hour period in its emergency department. The presenter said the request is intended to double space for women's and children’s services and add room for chemotherapy so patients would not have to travel out of the county for treatment. The hospital’s representative said architects estimated a rough build cost in the range of $40,000,000, noting the $25,000,000 request reflects a realistic ask given state funding uncertainty: "That's why we're at that request, but this should be more than sufficient to complete this project," the presenter said.

Commissioners asked about the county’s capacity to act as fiscal agent and whether staff could manage grant administration and cash flow. County staff said they are advertising for a grants position and acknowledged constraints around staff capacity and cash-flow timing for reimbursement; staff and the hospital agreed to pursue possible creative financing and coordination to manage upfront costs while awaiting reimbursement. The commission approved the letter by roll call.