On July 13 the Goodrich Village Council nixed a resolution supporting the City of Flushing’s battle against the Hurley Regional Medical Center millage on the Aug. 4 ballot.
‘It’s up to the voters,? said Village Council President Ed York. ‘They can go to the polls and make that decision this August.
‘The City of Flushing also asked for some legal help regarding the Hurley millage’that was also declined.?
The Hurley millage resolution was not on the Atlas Township agenda.
The issue comes after the Genesee County Board of Commissioners voted 7-2 in May to place a 0.9 countywide millage for Hurley Medical Center on the August ballot. The election will cost the township about $4,500, and add about $90 in taxes on a $200,000 home. However, it would generate about $10 million per year for the next 10 years for the Flint hospital.
The millage is necessary, say Hurley officials, due to the severe downturn in the auto industry and the domino effect that it has created, escalating the volume of patients the 100-year-old downtown Flint medical facility serves. The hospital also provides Level I Trauma Center, a burn unit, Level III Neonatal ICU and Children’s Hospital care.
After the Genesee County Board of Commissioners approved the vote, the City of Flushing then spearheaded a legal fight over whether Genesee County has the authority to tax for Hurley, a City of Flint hospital.
Flushing City Manager Dennis Bows said as of July 21, the cities of Swartz Creek and Flushing, along with Fenton, Grand Blanc, and Mundy townships have voiced support for the legal battle.
‘In each case we contacted the clerk of each municipality in the county,? said Bows.
‘The perception is they (Hurley) are attempting to put this on an election that out-county residents would not vote. It’s a political issue’a millage vote during a Flint mayoral election, the rest of the county has nothing else on that same ballot. We don’t oppose the millage as much as the method.?
‘Just imagine if this gets passed and a national health care package is also approved’Genesee County residents would have two tax increases. They will be taxed twice.?