The Houston City Council approved a community improvement district to fund Houston, Mo.-based Texas County Memorial Hospital's proposed on-campus surgery center, the Houston Herald reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. The council fully approved the tax incentive Nov. 19, with a 3-2 vote. Property owners in the hospital area will now pay a quarter-cent sales tax to help fund the surgery center.
2. TCMH believes the on-campus surgery center is "key" for the hospital's financial health.
3. TCMH's financial health is improving. The hospital recently posted its sixth consecutive month with positive finances, but revenues remain low after a weak start to the year. TCMH has lost $180,018 for the year, to date.
4. TCMH recently added two surgeons to accommodate stronger-than-anticipated outpatient surgical growth.