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FamilyCare’s seven-year battle against the state agency has generated massive legal bills for both sides, and there is no end in sight.

The state agency has hired 862 more employees since 2013 and increased salaries on upper management by 18 percent, helping to drive a 29 percent overall increase in payroll.

The Republicans fighting the tax appear to have bungled their way toward the ballot, as the top legislative attorney believes that the 0.7% tax on hospitals will be collected in 2018 and 2019 regardless of an election. A successful referendum would repeal the hospital tax just for 87 days in 2017 as well as the 1.5% insurance tax.

COVID-19 hospitalizations are expected to grow by about 50, adding to the state's ongoing hospital capacity crisis.