Geary County Commissioners received a presentation from Geary Community Hospital Trustees this week on the need for operational funding for the hospital for this year. GCH needs more than $6 million to finish the year until the hospital moves into a partnership with Stormont Vail Health.
Alex Tyson, Commission Chairman, noted that the County will continue to be there for GCH, "continue to support and help the hospital but we do feel that the City needs to be available to help." A proposal for funding assistance is expected to go to the City in the near future. On Tuesday the Geary Community Healthcare Foundation committed $1.5 million to the effort.
This week the County did not commit any more funding but in the past have agreed to fund up to $3 million in American Recovery Program funding for the hospital. Tyson commented the County is in the position where Stormont Vail Health is at the table. "We're are in agreement on all the other functions as far as lease and repairs to the hospital. I don't believe the County could falter and let this fall between the cracks for $6 million. We would essentially have to find a way to get there but we would be burdened by the interest rate if we were to do that." Funds would have to be borrowed.