Chandler Hospitals
The Hospital District Act was enacted by Arizona Legislature in 1949. In summary, the Hospital District Act permits residents of an area to petition the Board of Supervisors of the County for the formation of a hospital district. Once formed, it exists as a political subdivision of the State of Arizona, empowered to finance, construct, and own a hospital, plus related facilities at a single location within the district.
The Hospital District Act permitted a Hospital District to finance the acquisition and construction of a hospital, but required the hospital to be leased to an Arizona nonprofit corporation formed for the purpose of conducting the business of a hospital.
On September 22, 1958, an election was held by petition of southeastern Maricopa residents to vote on the formation of the first hospital district. 867 residents voted in favor, 614 residents voted against, and 93 ballots were rejected.
Additionally, ten individuals submitted themselves as candidates to be elected into the initial Board of Directors of the district. The candidate with the highest number of votes was Palmer Boberg with 586 votes.
On September 26, 1958, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors ordered the formation of Hospital District No. One, Maricopa County, Arizona. It was known as “Hospital District” for short, and it stood approximately in alignment of 48th Street on the west, Baseline road to the north, the Pinal County border on the east and southeast, and the Gila river Indian Reservation on the south.
In 1959, the Hospital District Board asked the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to call an election to potentially obtain voter approval to finance the acquisition, construction, and equipping of a hospital at 120 North McQueen road, Chandler, Arizona. This hospital was constructed as a 46 bed facility and run by the Hospital Corporation.
In the early 1980’s, it became apparent that this hospital facility was now too small for Chandler’s growing population. In 1982, voter approval was obtained and a new hospital facility was opened on Dobson and Frye Roads in Chandler, Arizona in 1984 with 120 patient beds.
Furthermore, there was a growing demands for behavioral health treatment. In the late 1980’s, the East Valley behavioral Health center was constructed in lease to the Hospital District. However, perhaps the hospital did not meet the needs of the people or the demand for behavioral health service had declined, but the revenue generated was insufficient to finance the facility. The building was sold to the Hospital Corporation in about 1990, where it was renamed “Morrison Building.” The space was utilized for administrative functions.
On June 1, 2008, the last of the Hospital District bonds were paid in full. The Hospital District proceeded to obtain necessary clearance to dissolve from the Internal Revenue Service, and by December 31, 2010, the Board of Directors of the Hospital District successfully dissolved.