OPINION: Vote ‘yes’ on the UNMH mill levy for a healthy ABQ future

As leaders of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, we understand the vital role a robust healthcare system plays in attracting, and retaining, quality employees and businesses in our community. And as Albuquerque residents, we know we and our fellow New Mexicans deserve great health care. So do all our chamber members; it’s why our board of directors voted unanimously to support the University of New Mexico Hospital mill levy that’s on the ballot this fall. For voters to understand how essential this funding is, it is important to lay out what this mill levy will – and won’t – do.

UNMH is the hospital we all hope we don’t need but are so thankful for when wedo. This funding will enable UNMH to continue to provide its unparalleled high-quality health care, including:

New Mexico’s only Level 1 Trauma Center.

• Level 1 traumas are the most serious injuries and require quick response times and treatment. Having a Level 1 Trauma Center and 24-hour emergency room at UNMH are important to individuals, families and businesses. Whether it’s a serious fall or a vehicle wreck, these facilities are lifelines for our residents and our workforce. Having immediate access to top-notch emergency care can be the difference between life and death, between prolonged downtime and swift recovery.

New Mexico’s only dedicated pediatric hospital.

• UNM Children’s Hospital treats thousands of our children every year. The hospital’s cutting-edge technology and specialized care are strong motivators for families moving to, and staying in, New Mexico. Knowing that your children’s health needs will be met at the highest level makes Albuquerque an attractive place to live and work.

A teaching hospital.

• As the only academic health center in New Mexico, UNMH cares for patients with the most complex health needs in the Southwest — regardless of a family’s ability to pay. It is the primary teaching hospital for the UNM School of Medicine, which means providers and their patients are on the cutting edge of medical research, technology, clinical trials, and specialty patient care.

The state’s only NCI-designated cancer treatment center.

• The UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center is nationally recognized for breakthrough research in genomics, leukemia, nanotechnology, radioisotopes, and drug discovery. This means New Mexicans have access to the latest treatments, providing invaluable peace of mind and ensuring New Mexicans don’t have to leave the state to receive world-class cancer treatment.

This mill levy will not add a new tax. It is simply a continuation of an existing one that requires voter approval every eight years. In this manner, UNMH is able to secure the vital funding it requires without imposing any extra tax liability on the community.

Approving this mill levy is more than casting a ballot; it is a deliberate choice to invest in our community’s well-being. And it goes beyond health care; it’s about investing in a great place to work, live, and play, a great place to start or grow a business and raise a family.

When people and businesses see that we as a community prioritize high-quality health care, they in turn are more likely to move, stay, invest, and expand here, driving job creation and economic growth and helping our community become the thriving place we know it can be.

A “yes” vote on Nov. 5 for the UNM Hospital Mill Levy is a crucial part of keeping Albuquerque healthy, attractive, and competitive for residents and businesses alike. It’s a vote not just for today but for a brighter, healthier futurefor Albuquerque.

Del Esparza is chairman of the board of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. Terri Cole is president and CEO of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.