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School District Considers Tax Claim Against Hospital
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Published: January 9, 2009
BROOKSVILLE - The Hernando County School District intends to seek property taxes from Brooksville Regional Hospital for the value of the building and the county-owned land on which it sits, school officials said Thursday.
The district plans to hire a law firm to pursue ad valorem taxes from Health Management Associates Hernando, the firm that owns and operates the hospital.
The legal argument, according to an opinion sent to the district by the law firm Nabors, Giblin & Nixon: Although HMA leases the land from the county, the company should still pay property taxes based on the value of the land and the hospital building because HMA is using both for "a propriety function."
The school district ultimately could ask a judge to decide the matter. The district hasn't ruled out a deal first, Superintendent Wayne Alexander said.
"The next step is negotiations," Alexander said.
An HMA spokeswoman in Naples referred questions to Brooksville Regional administrators Thursday. Chief Executive Officer Kathy Burke did not return a call.
School board member Pat Fagan said he was supportive of the move. The board, he said, has a responsibility to see if the district is owed money under the law.
"If we're owed taxes, it's a benefit to the community to have that additional money available, especially now more than ever," Fagan said.
The amount could be sizeable.
The value of the 26 acres and the hospital, which opened in 2005, is nearly $36 million, according to county property records. The land accounts for $2.6 million of that value, records show.
Nabors, Giblin & Dixon has represented the county on various issues over the years, including outstanding bonds.
On Tuesday, the county commission agreed at the firm's request to waive any conflict of interest concerns. It's unlikely the county would be named a party in any legal action, County Attorney Garth Coller told the board.
Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.
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