ARLINGTON — Cascade Valley Hospital is merging with Skagit Regional Health June 1 under a 30-year contract, but no layoffs are expected.

“There is no anticipated reduction in force,” Cascade spokeswoman Jennifer Egger said. “Current Cascade Valley Hospital employees will be transitioning over to the Skagit Regional Health system. There are no layoffs. It’s just a transition from one organization to the other.”

The hospital, at 330 S. Stillaguamish Ave. in Arlington, is part of a publicly funded taxing district that includes Arlington, Darrington, Granite Falls, Silvana and surrounding areas.

In a formal move required by state law, the hospital send out notices that 418 positions would be cut at Cascade, but that is only because their contracts are being picked up by Skagit.

Hospital staff had to reapply for their jobs with an understanding they would be brought on by the new owners, said Mary Hyatt, the lead union negotiator.

Cascade Valley Hospital has roughly 500 employees and an operating budget of $50 million. The emergency rooms sees 19,000 patients annually.