From the WashingtonPost.com:
Voters in a rural California county are in such a dire financial condition that it's seeking a state bailout.
The vote gives Modoc County, in the state's northeastern corner, a much-needed infusion of cash and likely means it will avoid bankruptcy.
Voters approved two measures - one to impose a $195-a-year parcel tax to keep their struggling hospital, and another to create a hospital district to oversee its operations. The tax required two-thirds voter approval.
Local officials said they needed the tax because the hospital's operating costs have overwhelmed county finances. They had hired a bankruptcy attorney and have requested a $12.5 million loan from the state.
