Sussex County held a public hearing July 29 required under Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code after TidalHealth Nanticoke announced plans to issue up to $140 million of tax‑exempt bonds, $84 million of which could be used for projects in Sussex County.

Finance Director Gina Jennings said the bonds would finance or refinance acquisition, construction, improvement and equipping of health‑care facilities. The county’s role was limited to holding the public hearing; Jennings emphasized the bonds would be obligations of TidalHealth Nanticoke and not of the county.

Angel Aguilar, senior director of facilities for TidalHealth, described a planned three‑story, 93,000‑square‑foot building north of Millsboro along Route 13. Aguilar said the first floor will house imaging, laboratory, pharmacy and cardiovascular diagnostics, and the upper floors would house primary care, infusion, rheumatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology, pulmonary medicine, cardiology, general surgery, neurosurgery, urology and orthopedics.

No members of the public spoke in opposition either in person or remotely during the hearing. After the presentation and a brief question period, the council closed the public record and approved a resolution allowing the issuance process to proceed in accordance with federal tax rules.

Why it matters: The bond financing would allow TidalHealth Nanticoke to fund a major medical facility in Sussex County. The project could expand local access to specialty and diagnostic services and represents a significant health‑care capital investment in the county.