10:31 PM. FACT CHECK - D3 Houston County Commissioner Ricky Herring

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
[email protected]
334-790-1729
Date: Oct 04 2024 11:02 PM

HOUSTON COUNTY:     A major issue is on the ballot for the November General Election of local Houston County voters to cast their vote.

The issue is a local amendment to change the appointing process to the Hospital Authority which manages Southeast Health. Currently the Houston County Commission appoints from a list of potential candidates submitted by the Houston County Healthcare Authority.

D3 Houston County Commissioner Ricky Herring posted a video speaking to it. And we will be submitting articles on what he has had to say. And one factcheck of which we are aware of, D3 Commissioner Ricky Herring did not tell the full truth. D3 Commissioner Ricky Herring, who is also a Sergeant with Houston County Sheriff Department and former Chairman of Deacons, made it look as if the Healthcare Authority had complete authority to raise your pRoberts taxes and that is what funds the hospital.

THAT IS NOT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT.

Years ago the registered voters of Houston County passed a 4 mills property tax for the General Hospital, which is not Southeast Health. This was passed probably before most of us were born. The highest property tax the Healthcare Authority could draw was the 4 mills the registered voters passed.

Sometime in the early 1980’s a man by the name of Steve Phelps was hired as CEO of then Southeast Alabama Medical Center. And Steve Phelps brought a management team with him. Now Steve Phelps was a go getter, with strong visions and a tremendous drive. 

Things rocked forward and Steve Phelps formed National Healthcare. A firm that managed hospitals. And it was growing at a swift pace. If not mistaken it was not long before National Healthcare was traded on the stock exchange. They bought the six story building that is now the Administrative Building for Houston County.

There was a lot of whose - who in Dothan and Houston County which bought stock in National Healthcare. As National Healthcare was rapidly growing, Steve Phelps, Bill Cassels and others announced they were cutting the 4 mills property tax two 2 mills.

Things rocked on. And it seemed like overnight, while National Healthcare was booming fast, it tanked at about the same pace - FAST! People were attempting to bail out, quick.

Then Houston County Commission looked to expand. They looked at Porter Square Mall and the current six story building that belonged to National Healthcare. Some of Dothan’s pioneer giants, such as Stan Hope Elmore and Marvin Lewis, were stick holders. And the six story building had be gotten rid of. While Porter Square mall could be purchased for less money with plenty of growth room, the Houston County Commission had to bail out the Dothan pioneers. So Houston County bought the current six story building.

The next CEO of Southeast Alabama Medical Center was Jim Blackman. He had gone from Emergency Room Clerk to CEO of the hospital. Blackman later got into criminal trouble but many believe he helped take the fall for others, and protected others.

The next CEO was Ron Owens. During Owens tenure ACOM, the school to teach doctors was born. Owens went to the Houston County Commission to re-instate 1 mill of the 4 mill property tax authorized by the vote of the registered voters of Houston County. The purpose was to help fund ACOM or the hospital for funds directed from the hospital to ACOM. And ACOM has been great for Houston County and teaching doctors.

On Owens retirement comes Rick Sutton as CEO. A man retired from the military, Sutton has no people skills to build a friendship. And RSN has been no fan of Rick Sutton, at all. During COVID and all of the problems, because Alabama Governor Kay Ivey refuses to makes changes on Medicare or Medicaid ( RSN gets them confused ), Southeast Health asked the Houston County Commission to re-instate the one cent property tax which had been approved by the registered voters of Houston County for the hospital. This made the total of the 4 mills property tax, again approved by the registered voters of Houston County.

CLICK FOR AL.COM ARTICLE ON ALABAMA GOV. KAY IVEY ACTONS

CLICK ON AL.COM FOR ANOTHER ARTICLE ON ALABAMA GOV. KAY IVEY

The Houston County Commission found they had no choice in the matter. Not because of the hospital. But because the registered voters of Houston County voted and authorized 4 mills of property tax for Southeast Health. It was former CEO Steve Phelps who decreased how much was being collected. Then former CEO Ron Owens asked for one cent increase. The Houston County Commission had no choice, again, not because the hospital passed it but because the registered voters of Houston County passed it. So the property tax went back to the original 4 mills that was passed by the registered voters.

D3 Commissioner/Houston County Sheriff Sergeant Ricky Herring, who serves as a Deacon, did not explain the full truth. His comments leaves the citizens with the impression the hospital authority has the authority to just walk in and demand taxes increase. And that is a lie and not the truth at all.

It is the registered voters who voted for the 4 mills property tax. The hospital can not exceed the 4 mills property tax because decades ago that is what the registered voters of Houston County approved.

UNOFFICIALLY, RSN is told one mill of property tax is about $ 1.5 million. That amount of money, MIGHT, operate the hospital for four days. While it helps, with plus/minus 3,000 employees, this amount is a drop in the bucket.

So D3 Commissioner/Houston County Sheriff Sergeant is not telling the full truth.

FACT CHECK ME!!!

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