Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit Program could save Stephens County Hospital from closing

The Stephens County Hospital Authority met on Monday for its regular scheduled meeting; during which, Authority Chairman Mark Wilkinson explained that the Rural Tax Credit is one option that could save Stephens County Hospital from closing.

As WNEG News reported last week, the Stephens County Hospital Authority met with the Stephens County Board of Commissioners and the Toccoa City Commission to discuss the future of Stephens County Hospital.

One option presented to the County Commission to keep the hospital open was for the county to contribute between $3- and $5 million annually.

However, during this week’s meeting, Wilkinson explained that through the Rural Tax Credit, the hospital could collect up to $4 million annually.

“This Rural Tax Credit is a real thing, and the next thing is, we’re still looking at ways to save money here. It could have been a little bit worse; I mean it’s bad enough don’t get me wrong, ain’t a rural hospital, you name one around us that’s just still surviving. We’re not dead yet. And I’m not thinking that we’re going to need $3 million or $3.5 million from Stephens County. We’ve already raised $777,000 in rural tax that hasn’t cost anybody a penny. We’ve got to make the people of Stephens County understand that and we can probably raise more than what we need, I know we can. If we just do it,” he said.

The rural tax credit allows Georgia taxpayers to receive 100 percent state tax credit when they contribute to designated rural hospitals, including Stephens County Hospital, through the expanded Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit Program.

Because this is a tax credit, the contribution is applied directly against the amount the taxpayer owes in state taxes.

So, if a married couple gives $10,000 to a designated rural hospital, the actual amount of Georgia income tax they will owe is reduced by $10,000.

The program is designed to provide vital funding for rural hospitals in Georgia, many of which are facing major financial challenges.

For more information about the Rural Tax Credit contact Stephens County Hospital Foundation Director Pamela Jones at 706-282-4254 or via email at [email protected].