Letter: Edward Hospital Deserves Fair Treatment as Tax-Exempt Status is Reviewed

Dear Editor,

I wanted to take a moment to speak to an issue that has affected our area’s primary hospital facility, .

This summer, the Illinois Department of Revenue unfairly denied the tax-exempt status on the property of three Illinois hospitals, including Edward, claiming a deficiency in charitable giving.  This ruling was a rash, arbitrary decision by an agency that seems to have lost sight of the goal of creating and maintaining good paying jobs in our communities.

Edward Hospital provides charitable care, health education and preventative medicine throughout our communities, as well as thousands of good paying jobs as it is one of the largest, most stable employers in our region.

Since this ruling there has been an outpouring of support from the community on behalf of Edward rebuffing this decision.  Support has come from all around, including local municipalities who stand to financially gain much needed tax revenue from this decision.

I commend Governor Quinn for putting the brakes on this decision, citing a need for legislative compromise and will fight to ensure that they are treated equitably and fairly through the legislative process.

Edward Hospital is a pillar of our community that contributes tremendously to our overall quality of life, and I stand by their effort to bring this situation to a fair and balanced conclusion.

Sincerely,
Darlene Senger
State Representative, 96th District