That is why one of my first priorities as your City Commissioner will be to work with my colleagues on the City Commission to ensure that $1 million of the $3.6 million we receive from FSU each year, for the next 30 years, is dedicated to indigent healthcare services in our community.
You might have thought this was part of the original deal.
It was not.
Leading up to the sale of TMH to FSU, there was debate over whether these funds were legally required to be spent on indigent healthcare. Some have argued yes. Others have argued no.
Frankly, I believe they were arguing the wrong point altogether.
The better question is this: If we have the ability to help provide healthcare for residents who otherwise might go without it and, without raising taxes or asking residents to pay for it - why wouldn't we?
If elected, I will support directing $1 million annually from the FSU payment to organizations that have spent decades serving our community's healthcare needs. Three that come to mind include: Bond Community Health Center, Neighborhood Medical Center, and North Florida Medical. These organizations are already on the front lines providing essential care to working families, seniors, children, and residents who often have nowhere else to turn.
And, investing in preventative care saves money in the long run.
When a working parent skips a doctor's visit because they cannot afford it, the consequences eventually affect all of us. When someone delays treatment for diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure because they lack access to routine care, the cost often becomes much higher later. Emergency rooms become crowded, health outcomes worsen, and taxpayers ultimately pay more.
Preventive care and routine health care are not luxuries. They are investments in a healthier, stronger community and a productive workforce. Most importantly, it treats healthcare not as a crisis response, but as a proactive investment.
This is not a partisan issue. It is not an ideological issue. It is simply the right thing to do.
By dedicating a portion of existing revenues from the sale of TMH to indigent care and embracing the promise of FSU Health and an academic medical center, Tallahassee can demonstrate what thoughtful leadership looks like. We can invest in innovation while remaining committed to compassion.
I believe Tallahassee is at its best when we come together to solve problems, support one another, and invest in a stronger future. This proposal is a practical step toward that future and one of the ways I intend to bring us all together. I encourage every candidate running in this election, in all races, to join me in pledging support for this important step forward.