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Commissioners approve county sign-off for Texas Health Resources bonds for new Forney hospital
Summary
Kaufman County commissioners granted a TEFRA approval requested by Texas Health Resources for bonds backing construction of a new acute-care hospital in Forney; county officials said the debt would be the hospital's responsibility, not a county tax obligation.
Kaufman County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved a TEFRA notice and certificate requested by Texas Health Resources that clears the way for the health system to issue bonds to finance projects across North Texas, including a new acute-care hospital in Forney.
John Leatherbury, an attorney with Bracewell representing Texas Health Resources, told the court the transaction would be handled by the health system and that the county’s role was to acknowledge the project as required by the IRS. “One of the facilities is gonna be here in Kaufman County in, in Forney. It's gonna be a new first, acute care hospital in Forney. It'll have an emergency department, labor and delivery, and it'll also be room for expansion,” Leatherbury said. He estimated the amount to be spent in Kaufman County would be “not to exceed $200,000,000.”
The court’s approval followed public notice published by the developer’s team. Leatherbury said the overall financing transaction would be roughly $1 billion across locations and that the bonds were expected to be issued in August, depending on market conditions.
Commissioners and staff emphasized that the bonds are the responsibility of Texas Health Resources, not Kaufman County taxpayers. A court member said plainly, “This bond is their bond, not ours. It doesn't cost taxpayers any money.” The court then voted to approve the certificate; the motion carried.
Why it matters: the planned facility would add an acute-care hospital with an emergency department and labor-and-delivery services in Forney, increasing local hospital capacity and bringing a significant private construction project to Kaufman County. The TEFRA approval is a procedural step required by federal tax rules before tax-exempt bonds for private activity projects can close.
What the court approved: the court accepted the TEFRA notice and certified that county officials had been informed of the project so Texas Health Resources may proceed with its financing. The attorney said construction would begin after bonds are issued.
Next steps: Leatherbury said the bonds were anticipated to be issued in August, and construction would follow; no county financial commitment was made at the meeting.
