Monroe County discussion moves to reduce tax abatement for APHOR HealthCo

At a Monroe County meeting participants moved to reduce a proposed payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) for APHOR HealthCo, changing a previously approved 50% five-year abatement to a proposed 35%.

The change was introduced as part of a resolution delegating authority to the Industrial Development Board to negotiate and accept payments in lieu of taxes, "as defined by the Tennessee code," Speaker 2 said. Speaker 2 also stated, "We are reducing the tax abatement to APHOR HealthCo."

Speaker 1 reviewed prior commitments tied to the project identified in the transcript as "Project Starling," saying the May 2024 incentive package offered a five-year PILOT at 50% with expected investment of "about 48,000,000" and "a 100 jobs." Speaker 1 said updated figures are lower: "it's gonna be about 60 jobs and 33,000,000."

According to Speaker 1, the Industrial Development Board recommended adjusting the incentive to 35% abatement for five years. "They would like instead of reducing that, at 50% abated for 5 years to do 35% abated," Speaker 1 said, adding that the change "puts about 20,000 back in the county's general fund."

A motion to adopt the change was made and a second was requested. An attendee said "So moved." Speaker 2 named "Brian Harrell" when seeking a second; the transcript records a "Second" but does not clearly attribute which participant seconded. Speaker 2 then called for a roll call. The provided transcript ends before any roll-call results or formal vote tally are recorded.

The transcript identifies project names and dollar amounts but does not document a formal vote, implementation timeline, or final authorization. The Industrial Development Board recommendation and the motion recorded in the meeting transcript are the latest procedural steps shown.