Broward Health seeks OK for tax cut

Homeowners in the northern two-thirds of Broward County will pay 13 percent less in hospital taxes, under a budget that will go for approval later this month to the board of Broward Health.

The cut would lower the property tax rate from $1.25 to $1.09 per $1,000 of assessed value. For the owner of a $200,000 house, that would amount to a tax cut for the year of $32.50, said Alan Goldsmith, the system’s chief financial officer.

The public hospital system’s board, acting on a proposal from management, formally approved a $4.5 billion budget that would hold taxes at last year’s level. But that tax rate was just set temporarily for legal purposes. Assuming no sudden changes in the system’s financial prospects, the cut will be presented to the board for approval at its final budget hearing in two weeks.

Beverly Capasso, Broward Health’s chief executive officer, said the system had improved its financial situation through cost-cutting and financial moves that saved money without compromising care. Meanwhile, she said, the system was able to continue building projects such as the Broward Health North emergency room, Broward Health Coral Springs tower and Broward Health Medical Center neonatal intensive care unit.

“We identified over $31 million in savings, we refinanced debt and we improved operations resulting in $15 million in savings, which is a 10 percent improvement over last fiscal year,” she said. “We’ve kept patient care at the forefront of each decision and continue with key expansion projects.”

In another development, Jonathan R. Turton was chosen to lead Broward Health Medical Center, the system’s flagship hospital in Fort Lauderdale, as chief executive officer.