Doctors Memorial Hospital seeks extension of half-cent surtax 

gvalcourt@kentsmith.biz

In order to secure the financial future of Doctors Memorial Hospital, Chief Financial Officer Ronald Jamison, recently appeared before the Holmes County Board of County Commissioners to request an extension to the half-cent surtax.

The surtax was initially imposed on January 1, 2021, to ensure robust budgeting for the upcoming year. With the 2026 deadline for the surtax swiftly approaching, hospital staff and administration are keen to guarantee the availability of essential funds to support their annual budgeting needs.

The surtax, a critical financial lifeline for the hospital, was placed on the ballot in 2020 and received resounding approval from voters, passing with a vote of 4,560 to 4,117. The surtax has played a role in the growth of Doctors Memorial Hospital. 

The facility, which was originally built in 2008, relied on a substantial $16 million bond debt. Despite the financial challenges, the hospital has maintained its commitment to serve all patients, regardless of their ability to pay, embodying the true spirit of a public hospital.

As a rural hospital, Doctors Memorial faced significant hurdles in keeping its doors open until the half-cent sales tax was implemented in January 2021. The Board of County Commissioners gave a unanimous vote to place the request on the November ballot.