MCH Trying To Recover $2 Million From State

ELKHART, Kan. - Morton County is trying to recover nearly $2 million from the state that they say should have been going to Morton County  hospital over the last decade.

The issue started in 2015 when voters in Morton County approved a 1% sales tax to help fund the county hospital. But for nine years, the state sent half of the money for the hospital to the three municipalities in Morton County of Elkhart, Rolla and Richfield.

The cities spent the money, shorting the hospital out of nearly $2 million.

Now the county’s attorney says they want the state to reimburse them for the money spent to keep the hospital running.

“Essentially, if this committee works to approve the entire amount, we’re suggesting or requesting basically that Morton County residents would stand to each get $866.17," said Morton County Attorney David Thompson. "I don’t see it that way. I see that as $866.17 that the voters voted to go to their hospital that didn’t go to their hospital over a nine-year period."

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach issued an opinion earlier this year stating voters knew they were approving sales tax revenue to fund the hospital. The hospital has since received full monthly revenues.

However, lawmakers still question if the state is to blame for the funding issues.

“The liability would be somebody didn’t catch the clerical error," said Senator Rick Kloos. "So is there negligence on the part of the state department of revenue or is there negligence on the part of the county? It just bewilders me how you could have that kind of money coming in that long a period of time - you’d think you would see that - somebody. It doesn’t give you the right just to go spend it somewhere else.”

The Department of Revenue blames the county, stating it cited the wrong statute for the sales tax measure in 2015. Lawmakers are sending the complaint against the state to a committee for the 2026 legislative session.