8/16/1988 - Laserfiche WebLink

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cover this in the future, a new Health Department Building would be his third priority. He was not opposed to it; he just wanted the funds to be there. Chairman Scurlock listed his priorities with the Jail being first, the Court facilities second, the Health Dept. building third, and then recreation. Commissioner Eggert agreed with the Chairman's priorities, but reemphasized that she is only asking for conceptual approval. Commissioner Bird felt the Board had to agree in concept that a new Health Department Building is needed, but felt the taxpayers' wagon will only carry so much weight. We are going to need a lot of advice from the Finance Advisory Committee and our financial advisors as to where we stand financially and how much debt service the County can take on at this point. Commissioner Eggert noted that we get into a vicious cycle because when the hospital takes care of people in their Emergency Room, the County pays almost 3 times as much for their care than if primary care was given in the Health Department Building. So, no matter how we are functioning, we have a taxpayers' problem. Commissioner Wheeler asked what happened to the model for a new building, and Commissioner Eggert advised that we still have it. Commissioner Eggert reiterated that she wanted to be sure before she went forward with this that they have the Board's conceptual agreement. Commissioner Bird stated he would be in favor of going forward conceptually with this, but felt that somehow we need to resolve the financial question before we spend a lot of money on detailed plans and getting a lot of people fired up about this. Commissioner Eggert pointed out that we still have in our budget approximately $50,000 that came through on another bond issue to work towards plans for a Health Department Building. Chairman Scurlock felt the real key from the financial standpoint, in just general terms, is that this county cannot 52 7 ,GF A82 ,AUG 1 19BooK �,, F L-