$117,000 Spent in Bid for Hospital Wing

Supporters of a failed effort to build a new outpatient wing at the Ventura County Medical Center spent $117,000 on their spring campaign, according to finance statements filed this week.

Most of the contributions to SMART, which stands for Saving Money as Responsible Taxpayers, came from physicians affiliated with the public hospital, according to the reports.

Other large contributions came from the county employees’ union, which gave more than $17,000, and the New York-based brokerage firm of Smith Barney, which contributed $5,000.

County health officials proposed building a $56-million wing and financing it by selling bond-like certificates.

But rival Community Memorial Hospital, located two blocks away in Ventura, sponsored a March 26 referendum, and voters derailed the project. Community Memorial officials said the project was not needed and was financially risky.