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Board doesn’t hear tax hike request
Published Tuesday, March 4, 2008
NATCHEZ — The Adams County Board of Supervisors took no official action regarding the future of Natchez Regional Medical Center at their meeting Monday.
The board, in executive session, briefly met with hospital board attorney Walter Brown and members of the local banking community.
Brown said the meeting was called for bankers — who could possibly make short-term loans to the hospital — and supervisors to be abreast of the hospital board’s current options.
Last week, Brown said he would request a raise in taxes to free-up funding for the hospital’s immediate debt service.
Instead a tax increase, in the form of a millage, was only discussed at the meeting, not formally requested, Brown said.
Options for the hospital’s future include lease or sale of the hospital, bankruptcy or converting the hospital to a non-profit agency.
In other news, members from the Committee for Better Public Schools addressed the board with concerns about the current state of public schools in the Natchez-Adams School District.
Committee member Michael Winn requested supervisors closely examine the state of public schools in Adams County.
Winn said no improvement has been seen since school Superintendent Anthony Morris took over four years ago.
Winn said insufficient supplies of textbooks and steadily declining test scores are cause for great concern.
Supervisor Mike Lazarus proposed a motion that would call a meeting between the supervisors, school board and Natchez Board of Aldermen.
“This is a situation that we can’t avoid,” he said. “We need to find out what the problem is.”
The motion passed and the three boards could meet as early as this week, Lazarus said.
Supervisors also heard from representatives with the Corrections Corporation of America.
CCA is currently building a prison complex with a price tag expected to exceed $100 million.
CCA’s attorney Lucibeth Mayberry told supervisors progress at the site is going very well.
Mayberry said, in an effort to maximize the facilities profitability, CCA has introduced legislation that would allow the company to house prisoners from other parts of the country instead of just Mississippi.
Mayberry said the prison would only import prisoners to keep their facility operating at maximum capacity.
Any prisoners brought in would be ranked as medium security only.
Mayberry said the facility should be completed and operational by January 2009.
In other business, veteran’s service officer Earle Drane said he is in need of volunteers to drive veterans to the VA hospital in Jackson.
Interested parties should contact Drane at, 601-445-8706.
Comments
Posted by msubulldog (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 4:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What is not mentioned in this story is that Stan Owens has be selected as the new Adams County Emergency Management Director. George Souderes will offically retire on March 14 at which time Owens will head up the office.
Posted by motherof2 (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 6:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why should you have a tax hike to support the hospital. Some hard working people are just barely getting by this day in age and we pay our bills, hospital including. You raise taxes and there will be no one left in natchez to come to the hospital except for the ones that got you in trouble to begin with. The ones that don't pay.
Posted by Skeptical (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When CCA tapped into public Katrina funds for millions in subsidies, do you think they weren't intending to import murderers, rapists, kidnappers, pedophiles from out of state? Do you think that maximum security prisoners start looking like "medium security" cons, when the corporation has empty beds? They are in Mississippi for one reason, and one reason alone: To maximize their profits and employees, inmates and the public be damned.
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NO MORE TAXES ! Especially for anything that has to do with health care,unless our politicians can do away completely with medical care insurance . The insurance companies are robbing us .Our Drs. and nurses are smarter but our health care has gone down . Why is that ?
Posted by Lily_Dream (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It seems that raising taxes is the answer to all debts! I wish I could go to my job and just give myself a payraise at will, regardless if my employer liked it or not!!!!!!!!
Having a hospital or any medical institution in financial ruins is sad. Just ask Jonesville, La., and soon Ferriday, La. Natchez Regional over extended itself in trying to have a policy to not refuse anyone medical treatment. Some can,some cannot pay. It is always going to be that way. Don't get me wrong in my statement. I appreciate the hospital, I feel that it is time for the hospitals' community and it's patrons to jump in and bail them out.
What about the Board of directors and all these fine people whose photos line the hospital walls. Are they not making financial contributions in exchange for such a title? Does this hospital not have a grants writer? Are the "Big Wigs" in your community making charitable contributions? Is there not a Public Relations person who is sharp at fundraisers? Are your meetings open to the public? If so, have you(Natchez Regional) asked for the publics support in keeping the doors open and the lights on?
My questions might appear stupid to some readers, but these are things they are thiking as well. I would hate to see a hospital close its doors due to mismanagement or unpaid debts. I feel that if there is enough public outcry about this, then the community as a whole can get involved. Afterall, this hospital serves MANY communities without predjudice. Now it is time these communities gave back.
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You mental midgit types in charge add any more taxes on me and I'll be throwing tea leaves in the river on Silver Street. NO MORE TAXATION FROM STUPID REPRESENTATION!
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Amend Hardcorps!
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GIVE THE CITIZENS A BREATHER!!!!!!! NO NEW TAXES!!!!!!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
PREACH ON, BROTHERS AND SISTERS!!!NO MORE TAXES!!!!!
I like the way Hardcorps put it...lol...lmao....
Posted by justthefactsman (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Completly off subject, but,,,How much does the hospital have to pay each time that Helicopter flies in to take patients to Jackson??? Seriously IT has to be a small fortune. Are they on Contract with them or what? Cause they fly here just about everyday.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a knee jerk reaction, both from me and from Walter Brown
NO MORE TAX
manage the hospital better or close it down
We can go across the river to a new hospital soon anyway
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who is the hospital in debt to?
to itself?
who are the creditors that the hospital owes?
Sue the State of MS for the unpaid Medicaid first, I think that should be considered, if the hospital was promised Medicaid payments and then these went unpaid it stands to reason there should be some legal recourse there
Seems like Walter Brown could have thought of that instead of trying to put the burden of this debt off on US, the taxpayers of Adams Co.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm glad to see Lazarus trying to make progress bringing people together to take action on the school problem
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The helicopter is suppose to be paid for by the patient, or insurance. It is a private contract with the patient, just like the ambulance service. The hospital, to my best knowledge, pays nothing - the helicopter company has to get the money from the patient - not the hospital.
NO MORE TAXES!!!
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
skeptical - CCA didn't receive any Katrina "funds", they are given tax breaks for starting new business in the Katrina damaged areas.
Posted by topper (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 5:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the umc helicopter bills the patient not the hospital. The helicopter works off a grant. NRMC did not pay for the helipad. A grant through the trauma system did. It is used alot on trauma patients and the time it saves, saves lives. It is also used for critical ill newbons that need to go to Univesity newborn ICU.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 7:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The helipad is also used by Community when they need to send someone off. They used to land at a medical office building across from NRMC and behind the shell station - a very unsafe place to land a helicopter.
Posted by trying (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 10:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
freedom42--- BOTH hospitals were using the land across from NRMC (presently Wal-Greens) as a helicopter landing.The land was sold.
Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on March 4, 2008 at 10:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How would converting the hospital to a non-profit agency help to fix the situation with the 7.5 million in loss? Would that help them stay open? Exactly how would the hospital operate as a non profit? Would they still accept insurance? Would everyone, in town, and the surrounding areas get free treatment there? Would the hospital become eligible to get grants as a non profit? Please explain.
Is the University Medical Center a non profit hospital?
Maybe Greg Isles could write a book and donate the proceeds to the hospital fund, lol. Other Natchez writers could do the same. Area musicians could stage a couple of concerts and donate the cover charge to the hospital fund.
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