Tom Barb, CEO for the Hernando Healthcare, Inc is scheduled to present the Board of County Commission with the hospital deed at their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, December 6, 2005. This deed presentation is for the new Brooksville Regional Hospital on SR50 & Wiscon Road. Before anyone gets too emotional over this most gracious gift to the county, please stop and think about the long term impacts (of this gift). This "deal" to turn over the deed was brokered by Tom Barb and the County Commissioners before the new hospital project began several years ago. With the deed transfer to Hernando county taxpayers, Brooksville Regional's lease will be increased to a 40-year term, with an increase of $500K per year in (lease) payments to the county. With this presentation of their deed to the county, the entire new hospital will never have to pay Ad Valorem taxes for property. This new hospital was estimated to cost $53 million which would reap approximately $970K per year in property taxes if left on the tax rolls. Please do not forget that Hernando Healthcare, Inc. does not pay Ad Valorem taxes for Spring Hill Regional Hospital or the Pine Brook facility either. As the new hospital property value increases over the next 40 years, Hernando Healthcare will pay the same lease payment, with no increases to their company, while they pocket the profits for their stockholders for this for-profit corporation. This deed-deal brokered by our County Commission and Tom Barb/Hernando Healthcare should be strictly scrutinized before accepting the transfer next Tuesday. Consideration needs to be given to all business and residential properties that pay Ad Valorem property tax in this county and any long term impacts this transfer may have on us as taxpayers in this community over the next 40 years. Maybe its time the county commission get out of the hospital business and they stick with the business of running government.
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