A deed signing party took place this morning to transfer the new Brooksville Regional Hospital to the taxpayers of Hernando County. An oversized "Special Warranty Deed" was signed by all the commissioners and officials of Brooksville Regional, with photo session following, to remember the moment, calling it a private/public partnership.
After speaking at Citizens Input this morning and subsequently receiving answers from the Hernando County legal staff, I believe my interpretation of the revised lease was correct. Essentially Spring Hill Regional and the Pinebrook facility will not pay Ad Valorem taxes or fire fees. In fact, they probably will never end up paying on the lease of $300K because of a stipulation in the lease that states: In no event the payment exceed an amount equal to a full Ad Valorem tax assessment for the new facility. In black & white terms, Tom Barb and the stockholders of Hernando Healthcare, Inc. will only pay an assessment on one facility, not to exceed the estimated Ad Valorem rate on the new facility by the property apprasiers office while pocketing the profits generated by all three facilities. So if this rate I estimated at $970K if corrct, Brooksville Regional will not even have to pay on the lease or fire fees, just the estimated Ad Valorem for one facility.
The concept of the private-public partnership has somehow been blurred on this deed transfer. This deal does not seem like a bargain to the public when every property owner in this county, business and residential, is expected to pay their fair share to support local services.
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