The recommendation from the Van Diest Medical Center financial committee was to reduce the levy from $2.10 to $1.90 per $1,000 of taxable value on property in Hamilton County. The board voted to approve the $1.90 levy with a vote of 6-1.

Board Chairwoman Darcy Swon conducted the meeting, after recommendations were presented by CEO Lisa Ridge and CFO Ashley Allers to continue with the $2.10 levy per $1,000 taxable property value.

“I feel eliminating the $2.10 tax levy is not in the best interest of the hospital,” said Ridge.

Allers presented the financial impact to the hospital revenue in reducing the levy in various increments.

Swon asked for other comments from the board. Trustee Doug Bailey, who was on the Hamilton County Supervisors when this levy was enacted, read an email he had written, proposing a 50% reduction in the levy.

“I believe we should reduce the levy, not because of the condescending noise raised in the community, but because we can without endangering the financial position of the hospital. With the DPP in place, we are very sound financially. If the DPP were to disappear overnight, we have reserves from the DPP that we have already received that could be used to finish out a fiscal year and if necessary raise the levy for the next year.

I propose that we reduce the levy by 50% of the tax dollars received in this fiscal year – which would equal about $1,365,000.” said Bailey.

Carroll Ose asked the administration about changes in the future.

“Is there anything that says we cannot raise it back up if needed,” he asked.

There was uncertainty in the response from Allers, indicating that anything could happen, alluding to legislative changes.

“As elected officials we accepted the position, but we also need to think about the public; we have the public trust. We need to consider what effect it will have on our hospital and community.” Ose said.

Later in the discussion, Bailey offered another point.

“The County Board of Supervisors way of operation and approaching taxation is completely different from the hospital board. But that is my experience with setting and spending property tax dollars. My 16 years there leads me to believe that we could do things differently here in regards to the levy.” he said.

“Speaking of the Board of Supervisors, we are about to make the last payment on the bond that was used to pay or the construction of the new hospital beyond donations. The board of Supervisors at that time secured and guaranteed the bond, on behalf of the property tax payers of Hamilton County, in order to save thousands of dollars in interest and make the annual payments more possible. I point this out because I believe it is important to have alliances with other taxing entities.” he concluded.

Kirk McCollough made the motion to accept the financial committee’s recommendation, which was seconded by Michelle Zahn. Doug Bailey voted no, Carroll Ose began to abstain, but changed his vote to yes to approve the levy. All other votes were in favor of the levy.

The Board of Trustees includes David Everson as Vice Chair, who was attending remotely; and Kyle Heffernan, Secretary.

McCollough who is Treasurer, Swon, Ose, Bailey and Zahn round out the trustees.