The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - Columbia County Health System staff members and commissioners voiced concern Monday night that recently proposed budget cuts at the state level may cause the closure of Dayton General Hospital.

Jim Kimes, a member of the district's board of commissioners, told the Dayton City Council on Monday that a round of cuts to be proposed in the upcoming special session would cut about $400,000 from Dayton General Hospital's budget.

The cuts target critical care access hospitals in rural areas across the state.

"If their proposal goes through, 15 of the 38 (rural hospitals) may have to close...