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Hospital tax hits property owners in Baldwin County

The tax will be implemented for the next 10 years.

Milledgeville — A new tax took hold in Baldwin County this year, aimed at easing the cost of indigent care for Navicent Health Baldwin.

In late 2017, the Baldwin County Commission voted to create a new tax district in order to create funds to help the Baldwin County Hospital cover the costs of people who cannot afford to pay. County Manager Carlos Tobar said it was the difference between having a hospital in Baldwin County and otherwise forcing people out of the county for care.

"The decision was made in late 2017 that Baldwin County needed a hospital and the federal government requires hospitals to provide the indigent care and it was either have a hospital or lose it," Tobar said.

Last week, a letter went out to property owners along with their property tax bill, detailing that the county would be collecting $500,000 over the next 10 years. The tax will add $32 to each parcel of real property. That is land not owned by governmental entities or an organization that does not pay property taxes.

Tobar said the county is collecting $125,000 to cover the last quarter of 2017 and will collect an additional $500,000 to cover 2018. For the next eight years, the county will just collect $500,000 and then only $375,000 in year 10. The county commissioners did not want to risk losing the hospital Tobar said.

"You have 44,000 residents, you have Georgia College students, and you’re trying to attract businesses here and I think having a hospital is an important factor," Tobar said.

The Baldwin County Tax Commissioner said on their Facebook page that they are not responsible for levying the law only enforcing it and that questions regarding the tax decision should be redirected to commissioners.

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