Keep Care Local
Quick Facts About Hospital District 304, Prop. 1
Who Are We?
As your local public hospital district, we are a community-created and community-owned resource, which means we work for you! We’re a special-purpose district, governed by an elected board and partially funded by local tax dollars. We focus our efforts on programs that help keep people healthy at every stage of life.
How We’re Building Healthier Communities
Watch this brief video for an overview of what we do.
Curious about the specifics of what we’ve been working on? Our 2025 Impact Report shares the highlights.
How Will This Benefit Our Community?
If passed, Hospital District 304, Proposition 1 would…
District 304 serves the largest geographical location in Skagit County, focused on the northern and eastern part of the county. We serve the areas in green below.
The current levy has been in place for over 5 decades (50 years+).
Great question—there isn’t one! They’re both the same organization.
Our legal name is Skagit County Public Hospital District #304, and that’s the name you’ll see listed first on the ballot. Because it’s a bit long, we also use a “doing business as” name: United General District 304. That’s the name most people in our community recognize and use day to day.
In 2014, District 304 entered into a long-term agreement with PeaceHealth. We maintain ownership of the hospital facilities, while PeaceHealth oversees all medical services. This allows us to focus on prevention programs that keep our community healthy and thriving every day.
No. The additional levy funds will stay with United General District 304 and be used locally for community programs focused on keeping people healthy and supporting the overall well-being of our community.
At 9.42 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, our current levy rate is one of the lowest in Washington State. The proposed levy rate of 50 cents is in line with others.
In 2025, local public hospital districts passed the following levy increases:
We didn’t choose this number at random. Our organization carefully reviewed current community needs, looked at what’s coming in the years ahead, and analyzed the costs of meeting those needs. That information helped guide our decision and arrive at a levy amount that supports important community programs while remaining mindful of taxpayers.
About 90% of our programs are funded through grants, and that funding has become more limited and unpredictable in recent years. Federal and state grant dollars have been reduced, and more organizations are competing for the funding that’s still available. On top of that, grants are often narrowly focused and don’t always align with the specific needs of our local community.
At the same time, our community is growing, and with that growth comes increasing and more complex health and wellness needs. To keep pace—especially with prevention-focused programs that help people stay healthy and reduce the need for long-term medical care—we need a more stable and reliable funding source. A levy increase helps ensure we can continue serving our community today while preparing for the needs of tomorrow.
As a community-owned organization, we take financial responsibility and transparency very seriously. Each year, we are entrusted with up to $3 million in grants to respond to urgent and emerging community needs, and we work hard to ensure those funds are managed carefully and thoughtfully.
We also maintain strong financial oversight through comprehensive financial management and regular independent audits. Our audits consistently receive opinions of “no findings,” which means our financial statements are accurate and we are in compliance with applicable rules and regulations.
We are committed to high standards of accountability, excellence, and transparency, and we believe our community deserves clear confidence in how public dollars are managed.
Prevention programs help people of all ages stay healthier, feel better, and enjoy a higher quality of life, and they also make good financial sense. By investing in things like education, early support, and healthy habits, we can help prevent more serious (and costly) health issues down the road.
In short, prevention doesn’t just improve lives—it also saves money over time. That’s why it’s a smart investment for our community and why we often say prevention really does make “cents.”
Here are some examples of how this investment pays off:
For a $500,000 home, this amounts to an increase of about $17 per month. Exemptions are available for seniors and disabled persons who qualify.
Still have questions? We’d love to hear from you!
Email us at Admin@UnitedGeneral.org.