Board approves community health agreement with Franklin General; Exhibit A shows $478,243.76 shortfall

The Franklin County Board approved a community health agreement that sets a signing date of June 2 and a 90-day transition period ending Sept. 1, the board was told. The board approved the agreement by voice vote.

Kim, a representative from Franklin General, described the change as a scheduling update: “The community health agreement is just adding the dates,” she said. County discussion noted that Franklin General Hospital (FGH) and the county Board of Health must also approve the agreement before the transition takes effect.

The board then considered Exhibit A to the agreement. A presenter said the accountant’s projections show “$478,243.76 is the operating shortfall and the wage transition.” The board approved Exhibit A by voice vote. The presenter added a sentence to clarify that “totals may vary from the above amount based on current staffing and staff transitions and will be figured on the date of transition.” The presenter also said that employee benefits and payouts were addressed in the exhibit.

Why it matters: Exhibit A quantifies an operating shortfall tied to staffing and wage changes that counties and the hospital will need to address during the transition. Board members also discussed final approvals and scheduling steps before the transition date.

The board asked that final documents be sent to county staff for distribution; a county official said she would send the finalized paperwork to Laurie for sharing with the board. Supervisors voted in favor of both the agreement and Exhibit A by voice vote; individual roll-call votes were not recorded in this transcript.

Ending: The board chair adjourned the meeting after approving the agreement and Exhibit A; Franklin General and the Board of Health must complete their respective approvals for the transition to proceed on schedule.