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Montgomery mayor urges regional support for Jackson Hospital; council adopts resolution
Summary
Montgomery’s mayor warned the city cannot be the sole financial backstop for Jackson Hospital and urged county, state and regional partners to join; the City Council unanimously adopted a resolution affirming the city’s intent to negotiate a partnership if other parties participate.
The mayor of Montgomery told the City Council that Jackson Hospital is under severe financial strain and said the city cannot and should not be the sole financial safety net for an institution serving a regional population. The council then adopted a resolution affirming the city’s willingness to enter an agreement with Jackson Health Care and Jackson Investment Group if county, state and other regional partners participate.
The mayor said the downtown shooting over the weekend and other public-safety concerns have highlighted broader, long-term needs in Montgomery, but that the hospital crisis required immediate attention. “Its potential closure would not only jeopardize access to critical medical services for those residents of Montgomery, but for those throughout the River Region and beyond,” the mayor said.
Why it matters: Jackson Hospital serves patients and employees from surrounding counties; its closure would affect health-care access across the River Region. The mayor framed the hospital’s problems as a regional issue, asking for “enforceable agreements” and written commitments from the state, Montgomery County and other stakeholders before the city commits public funds.
Council action and next steps The council considered a resolution titled broadly as an affirmation of the city’s intent to enter an agreement with Jackson Health Care and Jackson Investment Group. Council members debated whether to include surrounding counties and county participation; ultimately the council voted to adopt the resolution. The resolution does not obligate the city to provide funds; it states only the city’s willingness to negotiate a partnership if other partners join.
Congressional support and federal limits U.S. Rep. Shamari Figures, attending the meeting, said his office has been following the situation and that federal emergency dollars are not available for this type of hospital financing in the short term. “Jackson Hospital is not closing, in 30 days,” Figures said after meetings he described with local stakeholders; he added that Jackson is “the single most important hospital in the state of Alabama, because of the regional care it provides.” Figures said he would press federal partners for support but warned that funding at that level is limited.
What officials said they want to see The mayor urged the council to require transparency and legally enforceable commitments before any city funds are provided. He said the city needs answers to questions including how the hospital will be held accountable and what management and oversight will look like going forward. Several council members pressed for a regional meeting of stakeholders, and one council member asked the chamber of commerce to convene surrounding counties to discuss shared responsibility.
Ending The resolution passed unanimously. City officials said they will continue negotiations with county and state leaders and seek to convene other regional actors; no funding commitment by the city was made at the meeting.
