NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick. Citizen Bob Tolley has been questioning the viability of tax monies from Bert Fish Medical Center being used to fund community projects, with the Community Redevelopment Agency counting on another $2.3 mliion from the hospital over the next five years. Tolley has repeatedly questioned the proper uses in public forums like the one last month before the City Commission as shown in the video.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Are hospital taxes for health care or CRA Christmas trees, holiday lights and landscaping. These are the questions city resident Bob Tolley has been asking over the last few months. His inquiries have led to more intense discussions between administrators at Bert Fish Medical Center and officials in city government and the Community Redevelopment Agency over the use of tax dollars collected from the hospital for community projects.
Tonight, the City Commission is expected to discuss and possibly adopt a resolution of understanding between the hospital and governmental entities over the direction of taxes and spending.
More than $5.6 million in hospital taxes paid by the citizens has been given to the CRA since 1986,according to Tolley "with not one penny of which went directly to the health care of the poor, the indigent and the citizens of New Smyrna Beach as a whole, even though that is what these taxes are designated for."
Making matters even worse, Tolley insists, the CRA is demanding yet another $3.2 million from the hospital over the course ogf the next five years, which covers the lifespan of the CRA.
Bert Fish Medical Center President Bob Williams has been having on-going discussion with both Mayor Adam Barringer and City Manager Pam Brangaccio in an effort to come to an agreement "that will save face for the city and the CRA, with the taxpayers and those requiring health care coming up on the short end of the stick yet again," according to Tolley. Neither Williams nor the city leaders agree with Tolley's assessment.
Williams sent a letter to the city last month (see attachment with this story) making clear his intention to work together with all parties involved to settle differences.
The meeting gets under way at 6:30 p.m. at the City Hall Commission Chambers, 205 Sams Ave.