HOPE, Ark. — Hempstead County voters approved a new sales tax Tuesday to sustain the Southwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center, with 82% of voters backing the measure.
The three-quarter-cent sales tax is designed to preserve access to emergency services and ensure healthcare remains available within the county, according to hospital officials.
The push for local funding began in May 2024 after Steward Health Care filed for bankruptcy. Since the filing, community leaders and organizations, including the City of Hope and Hope Water & Light, have worked to find a sustainable path forward for the facility.
Following the vote, medical center officials released a statement thanking residents for investing in the hospital’s future. Officials noted that while work remains, the vote demonstrates a shared commitment to sustaining healthcare for future generations in the Ark-La-Tex region.