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Mahoning County holds public hearing on proposed $942 million Bon Secours Mercy Health hospital bonds
Summary
Mahoning County commissioners held a Feb. 27 public hearing on a proposal for Allen County to issue up to $942,000,000 in tax‑exempt hospital revenue bonds for Bon Secours Mercy Health; residents urged spending on emergency‑room capacity in Mahoning County.
Mahoning County commissioners held a public hearing Feb. 27 on a proposal for Allen County to issue up to $942,000,000 in federally tax‑exempt hospital revenue bonds to benefit Bon Secours Mercy Health, including potential improvements at hospitals in Mahoning County.
The hearing, held in the Mahoning County Commissioners Hearing Room, drew public comment focused on emergency‑room capacity and ambulance access. A representative speaking on behalf of Bon Secours Mercy Health told the commissioners the proceeds would either refinance higher‑rate existing debt or fund capital improvements at its facilities, including “bricks and mortar” work and equipment such as CT scanners.
“The proceeds will flow to Bon Secours Mercy Health, who will then do one of two things,” the Bon Secours Mercy Health representative said. “They’ll either refinance existing bonds that are at a higher interest rate into a lower interest rate to save money, or ... they will plow it into improvements at all of their hospital facilities, including those here in Mahoning County.”
A resident who spoke during the hearing urged that any local share of bond proceeds be directed to expand emergency‑room capacity in Mahoning County, saying long waits and patients lined in hallways are a recurring problem. “You shouldn’t have people lined up in hallways,” the resident said, describing capacity and ambulance‑access concerns at the downtown emergency department and Boardman location.
County staff opened the hearing by explaining that Allen County would be the issuing authority in a joint undertaking and that the issuance would be governed by Chapter 141 of the Ohio Revised Code. The representative noted the bonds would be tax‑exempt under federal law, meaning bondholders do not pay federal income tax on interest, which triggers the public‑input hearing requirement.
No formal vote or action to approve an issuance was taken at the Mahoning County hearing. The session provided a public record of local input for Allen County and Bon Secours Mercy Health to consider as they proceed with the proposed financing.
Details reported at the hearing include the not‑to‑exceed aggregate principal amount of $942,000,000 and the stated uses of proceeds as either refinancing existing obligations or funding capital projects such as parking, entryways, hallways, and diagnostic equipment. The hearing notice listed the event time as around 9:45 a.m. on Feb. 27, 2025, at the Commissioners Hearing Room, 120 Market Street.
The public hearing concluded with commissioners recording the comments; speakers did not identify additional formal requests or motions for Mahoning County commissioners to act on the bond issuance during this session.
