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County hears hospital plea for temporary 0.1% tax to bridge EPIC electronic records switch
Summary
Brenda Reetz, CEO of Greene County General Hospital, asked the council to prepare a draft ordinance for a temporary 0.1% local hospital tax to cover operating costs while the hospital implements a new EPIC electronic health record system costing roughly $6.3 million. Council instructed staff to draft the ordinance after debate and a roll‑call vote.
Brenda Reetz, CEO of Greene County General Hospital, told the Greene County Council the hospital needs a short‑term revenue bridge to implement a single electronic health record called EPIC and to stabilize operations. "We have 24 days cash on hand," Reetz said, and the hospital estimates EPIC implementation at roughly $6,300,000 while expecting about 40% of that cost to be covered by a rural transformation grant.
Reetz asked the council to consider adopting the local option hospital tax at the 0.1% cap established by recent legislation. "We're just asking you to give back about one month of what we've already written off to this county," she said, characterizing last year's uncompensated care at about $9,500,000 and estimating the full 0.1% would yield roughly $750,000 to $850,000 annually (with smaller amounts possible at lower rates). Council members pressed Reetz on recent real‑estate purchases, outstanding debt (Reetz referenced about $11,000,000 remaining on bonds), and whether the tax would be a temporary bridge. Reetz said EPIC implementation would begin within months with a 12‑month implementation window and maintained the tax request is meant as a two‑year bridge to avoid delaying the project.
County staff outlined the procedural steps required to enact the tax: prepare a draft ordinance, schedule a public hearing, hold a second reading and then a vote. Council member Karen moved to instruct counsel/staff to prepare a draft tax ordinance and assemble documentation for a future council meeting; the motion passed on roll call (one abstention recorded) and the council set follow‑up work for the next meeting cycle. The council did not enact a tax at this meeting; the vote authorized staff to produce the draft ordinance and begin the public process.
Why this matters: Greene County General Hospital accounts for a large local payroll (Reetz cited about $42,600,000 in annual payroll and benefits) and large patient volumes. Council members framed the question as balancing hospital financial stability and long‑term county fiscal planning, noting the tax would be time‑limited and subject to a public hearing and subsequent readings before any levy takes effect.
