15-07-2025
Group continues fight for public hospital in Dayton
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — A local group is one step closer to getting a levy to fund a new public hospital in West Dayton.
The Clergy Community Coalition has collected enough signatures for the Dayton City Commission to consider the petition. The group says the project is now more possible than ever.
Community brings West Dayton hospital petition to commissioners
CCC organizers say they have already proven that citizens want the project to happen, but a statement from the city says at this point, it is not clear if city commissioners will vote to approve the ordinance.
'It's not an unrealistic goal. It's a very realistic goal. It's a very achievable goal, and it just requires cooperation,' said Bishop Richard Cox, CCC president.
Cox says if citizens and leaders work together, he believes plans for a public hospital in Dayton could be successful.
The CCC says several state officials and other private donors have pledged financial donations toward the hospital being build and the cost of its maintenance. But without full support from city officials, these conversations are being put on hold until they know what the next steps will be.
Dayton City Commission is set to review the group's petition for an ordinance that would generate more than $20 million over ten years.
The CCC says they have adequate financial backing for the public hospital to be built, and if the levy passes, they say it could be at least a year until groundbreaking on the facility.
City leaders say the commission must still vote on the issue before voters will have the chance to decide.
In a statement to 2 NEWS, Deputy Director John Musto for the Dayton Law Department said, in part, 'This agreement does not mean that the City Commission will vote to approve the ordinance to be placed on the ballot this fall. Pursuant to Dayton Charter Section 26, the Commission may accept, reject, or fail to take action on the ordinance.'
Dayton City Commission is scheduled to meet on July 23 to vote on this citizen-initiated ballot issue. If they deny it, the group can still collect more signatures for the issue to be presented to voters in November.
The group says they will continue working toward their mission, no matter what.
'If they turn it down, then we're determined to go out and get 2,500 votes and put it on the ballot and go around the city commission,' said Cox. 'That's not going to deter all these people that worked so many years to make this a reality.'
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