Politics
Politics

Deal signs increase to Georgia’s rural hospital tax credit

Eastman, Ga. - Florence Widener, LPN, checks her patient at Dodge County Hospital in Eastman. The Dodge hospital once stood on the brink of financial collapse. A new CEO was able to save it by slashing jobs and budgets. But the hospital still needed tens of thousands of dollars from the county government to keep the doors open and will eventually be forced to ask for even more taxpayer money if it is to survive long-term. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM
Eastman, Ga. - Florence Widener, LPN, checks her patient at Dodge County Hospital in Eastman. The Dodge hospital once stood on the brink of financial collapse. A new CEO was able to save it by slashing jobs and budgets. But the hospital still needed tens of thousands of dollars from the county government to keep the doors open and will eventually be forced to ask for even more taxpayer money if it is to survive long-term. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM
By Kristina Torres
May 8, 2017

The benefit of donating to Georgia's struggling rural hospitals just got bigger, as Gov. Nathan Deal signed a measure boosting the state's rural hospital tax credit.

Senate Bill 180 increases from 70 percent to 90 percent the value of the credit taxpayers can earn from contributions to qualifying rural hospitals.

Lawmakers originally passed the 70 percent measure last year, but backers said a bigger incentive was needed because so few people had agreed to donate.

Alan Kent, president and CEO of Meadows Regional Medical Center in Vidalia, applauded the move, as did other supporters including the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals.

“This is a chance for people to step up individually and for corporations to step in as business leaders and be able to make a difference in their very own communities,” Kent said.

The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Dean Burke, R-Bainbridge, is also an offshoot of an effort by state Rep. Rep. Geoff Duncan, R-Cumming, who led last year's passage.

About the Author

Kristina Torres
More Stories

Keep Reading

(Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Ex-lawmaker, former Cobb school board member head to Georgia Senate runoff

Two Democrats are top voter getters, headed to runoff in Georgia Senate special election for metro Atlanta seat.

Georgia lawmakers vote to release Epstein files

The tally marked a dramatic reversal for GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill and a stinging rebuke for Trump, who had furiously tried to block the move.

Feud between Raffensperger and the State Election Board heats up

Relations between the State Election Board and the secretary of state's office have frayed after law changes and infighting on the board.

The Latest

(Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Ex-lawmaker, former Cobb school board member head to Georgia Senate runoff

Georgia lawmakers vote to release Epstein files

LISTEN

The federal government shutdown ends, but new rifts start in Georgia

Featured

Rose Scott signals as Closer Look goes on air in the WABE studio. An Atlanta resident left WABE a $3 million donation, a boost after WABE lost $1.9 million in annual funding from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting. (Ben Gray / AJC file)

Credit: Ben Gray

Donor leaves WABE $3 million, largest individual gift in station’s history

An Atlanta resident has bequeathed WABE a $3 million donation, the largest one-time individual donation in the nonprofit media operation’s 76-year history.

Usher sues business partners over failed Buckhead restaurant plan

Atlanta singer Usher wants his money back after loaning $1.7 million to music producer Bryan-Michael Cox and others to buy a Buckhead restaurant property for $6.3 million.

Braves’ original ‘Freeze’ is retired. But you probably still can’t catch him.

As the Atlanta Braves prepare to find their next sprinting mascot, Nigel Talton is enjoying his new career coaching high school athletes at McEachern High.