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Commissioner urges transparency on Jackson Hospital finances; commission calls for full information
Summary
Commissioner Harris said county leaders were not fully informed before Jackson Hospital’s bankruptcy and urged the commission to proceed cautiously; fellow commissioners agreed on the need for transparency and fuller information before any county commitment.
Commissioner Harris told the Montgomery County Commission on July 7 that while the commission supports health care in the county, it needs full, transparent information before committing resources to Jackson Hospital. “I don't think anyone on this commission wants anything but to see Jackson Hospital succeed,” Harris said, adding that the commission had received incomplete financial information and should not act without clearer data: “We can't go into this thing blind... we were not told the truth about his financial situation until way late, just before bankruptcy.”
Other commissioners echoed the call for more transparency and fiscal clarity. Commissioner Costanza said he also supports health care access but stressed an obligation to taxpayers to understand what resources would be required to sustain any proposed action. Another commissioner noted that preserving health care in the county did not necessarily require preserving the hospital under its existing ownership structure.
Why this matters: Jackson Hospital is a local health-care provider whose financial stability and future operations are of concern to county leaders and residents. Commissioner Harris’s comments signal that the commission will seek additional information before authorizing any county financial commitment or formal partnership.
What happened next: No formal motion or vote about Jackson Hospital occurred at the meeting; commissioners said they would pursue more information before considering specific actions.
