Intermountain Health representatives told the Weber County Commission on Dec. 15 that the system provides substantial community contributions, while outlining expansion plans at McKay Dee Hospital to increase ICU capacity and emergency department capacity.

The hospital-level presentation to the commission said Intermountain conducts a community health needs assessment every three years, targets a 3–6% net operating margin, and is investing to add primary care access, same-day appointments and a ‘hospital-at-home’ program. Presenters noted system-level financial figures and local service metrics.

Why it matters: County leaders raised questions about nonprofit tax exemptions and how hospital investments translate into local benefits. Commissioners said they appreciate the services but sought clarity on what is counted as charity care and how capacity improvements will affect access across Weber County.

Intermountain officials (identified in the meeting as the local hospital president, community relationships manager Nat Anderson and McKay Dee marketing communications staffer Jason Martie) described the health system’s financial posture and community contributions. The presenter said Intermountain paid "about a half $1,000,000,000" in taxes in 2023 (phraseology in the transcript was unclear) and reported a systemwide, value-adjusted charity-care figure of about $24,000,000. The presenter said, systemwide, Intermountain provides roughly six times the amount of charity care that would equal the property tax liability if the hospitals were for-profit entities.

Presenters detailed local capacity work at McKay Dee: an ICU expansion that initially adds six licensed beds and will move the facility from a 16-bed ICU toward 32 ICU beds as part of the current project; an ER expansion that will add 15 exam rooms and is intended to support projected growth toward roughly 80,000 annual patients. The presenter said the ICU project is expected to conclude "about this time next year," and noted the facility’s broader staffing and recruitment efforts.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions and offered local anecdotes praising timely emergency care; one commissioner recounted a rapid surgery after a serious injury. Intermountain stated that some areas of hospital property (medical office space, outpatient surgery centers and imaging centers) are subject to property tax while other licensed hospital property follows nonprofit exemption standards.

The presentation also covered system growth after a merger with SCL Health, SelectHealth expansion, a virtual hospital program and investments in community clinics and voucher programs for under- and uninsured patients.

What’s next: Hospital staff invited further conversations and said they would provide follow-up information when requested. Commissioners thanked the presenters and did not take formal action at the meeting.