Florida State University and Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare are working to finalize a high-stakes partnership to create an academic medical center \u2014 but this week, talks were overshadowed by controversy over whether the deal involved a push for a special hospital taxing district.<\/p>\n
In an unusually blunt joint statement, the two institutions rejected the idea outright.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet us be clear: Florida State University and Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare do not support the creation of a special hospital taxing district in Leon County or anywhere else,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis collaboration will enhance health care access, advance medical education, and improve health outcomes for all residents. Taxes have never been a part of our conversations, and they never will.\u201d<\/p>\n
The response came after days of online debate, political speculation and questions about behind-the-scenes negotiations \u2014 including claims that the civic business group Grow Tallahassee had floated a taxing district during discussions with state Rep. Allison Tant, a Democrat whose district includes parts of Tallahassee.<\/p>\n
Grow Tallahassee denies proposing a tax<\/p>\n
Grow Tallahassee Chair Bugra Demirel, whom Tant said raised the taxing-district concept, also issued a statement opposing the idea.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrow Tallahassee agrees with FSU and TMH, and opposes any additional tax burden on our residents and businesses,\u201d Demirel said. \u201cAs part of the FSU-TMH partnership to create an academic medical center, FSU will be footing the bill on behalf of the entire community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Demirel said his group supports the partnership\u2019s potential and wants leaders \u201cto finalize the partnership and move forward together to deliver the health care system our community deserves.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tant, who was the first public official to sound the alarm, reiterated that she opposes any new taxing district. <\/p>\n
\u201cI will fight this at every turn,\u201d she wrote on social media, adding she was relieved to learn FSU\u2019s official position.<\/p>\n
Two models: Tampa General vs. UF Shands<\/p>\n