Residents of Crittenden County demonstrated they want their hospital in West Memphis reopened and are willing to pay the price to have it done.
In a special election, voters last month overwhelmingly approved a temporary sales tax increase of 1 percent to help reopen Crittenden Regional Hospital, which had closed last September because of financial problems. In last month’s election, 2,846 voted for the tax over 439 opposing it.
Ameris Health, a privately held Nashville-based company organized as a limited liability corporation, has agreed to operate the hospital.
Crittenden County Judge Woody Wheeless told Arkansas Business magazine that Ameris would operate a smaller hospital than Crittenden Regional, which had operated with 140 beds, but more services could be added if the demand arises.
Since the September closing of the hospital, most residents in the West Memphis area have traveled to either Memphis, Jonesboro or Forrest City for medical care.
The approved tax increase, which goes into effect in November and expiring in five years, will raise the county’s sales tax rate from 1.75 to 2.75 percent. It is expected to raise about $30 million.
The reopened facility is expected to employ about 100. Nearly 400 people worked at the hospital before it closed.