Miami-based Baptist Health South Florida is operating Marathon, Fla.-based Fishermen’s Community Hospital as a field hospital after the hurricane destroyed the facility. However, operating Fishermen’s is costing Baptist $1 million monthly, Fishermen’s CEO Rick Freeburg said, according to the report. Now, hospital officials are trying to keep Fishermen’s running in the midst of this financial situation.
One potential solution is asking taxpayers for help. Mr. Freeburg has proposed creating a special taxing district around the Marathon area to help pay operating costs while Baptist installs a modular hospital — and eventually constructs a $40 million Fishermen’s facility, reports WLRN-FM. Taxpayers would pay a proposed $50 per $100,000 of taxable value, and the effort could potentially bring in about $1.5 million annually, the report states.
County commissioners could decide on creating a special taxing district as early as June.
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