Funding for new hospital one step closer

By Bonnie L. Jackson
News Editor
(Correction to story on front page of this week’s print edition.  The story said that the supervisors were seeking to authorize 12.5 mills for funds to go to the new hospital.  Below is the correction.)
On Monday in open meeting, Copiah County Supervisors put the finishing touches on and passed a resolution seeking a revenue sharing bond to secure funding for the new hospital.  The  facility, which is planned to be built on Hwy. 28 just west of I-55 and on property near the VFW, is expected to cost upwards of $12 to $15 million.

Supervisors, hospital officials and board members and the Copiah County Economic Development District have been working with state and federal officials to get the funding in place since a Certificate of Need from the state Department of Health was approved late in 2010.  Perry Hood, District 3 supervisor, said that plans are to secure complete funding first, then to proceed with putting the architectural plans together based on the amount of funding available.

The bond issue would bring in anywhere from $7.5 to $12.5 million towards the estimated cost of $10 to $15 million cost of the hospital.  Hood said that by passing the resolution with intent to issue the bonds, the board has shown that the county is completely behind the building of the new facility.

Read more about other actions taken at Monday’s board meeting in this week’s print edition or through a subscription to our online e-edition.