Hospital Sales Tax Passes In Mississippi County
by October 15, 2014 7:58 pm 150 views
A half-cent sales tax to help fund the operations of two hospitals in Mississippi County was approved by voters Tuesday.
In unofficial numbers, the tax passed by a 1,515 to 993 margin (60.4% to 39.6%). Officials began pushing for the tax last summer, talking to area civic clubs and groups about the need for it.
“We are very pleased and appreciative with the positive turnout. Last night’s results was a great victory for Mississippi County,” said Jim Shemwell, chairman of the committee supporting the tax.
The five-year tax, which will be collected from Jan. 1, 2015 until Dec. 31, 2019, is expected to raise $12 million. The revenue will help bring in money for the Great River Medical Center in Blytheville and the South Mississippi County Regional Medical Center in Osceola.
Shemwell said there was debate over whether to close one or both hospitals, or perhaps building a new one. He said all of the options were impractical.
Nearly $3 million of the $12 million would be used to repair facilities, while another $5 million will go toward purchasing new equipment.
Officials have said that $2 million would go toward recruiting and hiring doctors, with another $2 million going into a contingency fund to deal with anticipated losses in the reimbursement rate for rural hospitals from the Affordable Care Act.