Projected Fulton County budget deficit could impact Grady Memorial Hospital

How Fulton County officials are planning to fund Grady Hospital

Commissioners will grant Grady a one-time payment to help the hospital staff after the announcement of Wellstar's closure of Atlanta Medical Center.

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - Fulton County commissioners are concerned about a projected budget deficit's possible effect on Grady Memorial Hospital.

At a meeting Wednesday night, the county's finance director announced a possible fund balance shortfall of $103 million for 2023. According to officials, commissioners may have to cut up to 10% of next year's budget.  

That deficit has some Fulton County commissioners worried it could mean less money for Grady going into next year - adding to concerns after WellStar announced it would be closing Atlanta Medical Center.

"I think it's good to call this out," District 2 Commissioner Bob Ellis said. "The question is, what to do about it."

CITY LEADERS ‘BLINDSIDED’ BY WELLSTAR ATALNTA MEDICAL CENTER CLOSURE

Grady Memorial Hospital Emergency Room sign.

District 6 Commissioner Khadijah Abdur-Rahman blamed the reduced funding on a vote last month to lower the property tax rate in the county from 9.33 mills to 8.87 mills.

"The reality is we have to find a middle of the road approach, so we don't go into 2023 in the red," she said. "Today's report was damaging, it showed we are not only going to be in the red, but programs we need, we may have to get rid of altogether."

However, Fulton County Chairman Rob Pitts said it was his sense that "an increase in the millage rate is off the table, so I don't think you can count on that."

Commissioners are looking into other ways to fix the deficit. Some options being considered are a hiring freeze and stopping the expansion of existing programs or the funding of any new programs for 2023.

Projected Fulton County deficit brings concerns about Grady funding

Officials are already worried about how Grady Memorial Hospital will be impact by the future closing of the Atlanta Medical Center, but now a budget deficit is bringing new concerns about how the Atlanta hospital will be funding going into next year.

The finance director also suggested the county stop covering the credit card fees for residents who pay their tax bills online, which would amount to an estimated $12 million in savings.

"In terms of generation of revenue it's the only thing on this page that's potentially immediate," said Commissioner Ellis.  

Fulton County also announced Wednesday that it will make a one-time $11 million payment to Grady to offset labor costs after Atlanta Medical Center announced it would be closing this fall.

The money was already approved this summer, but the county is giving it to the hospital earlier due to the closure.

County officials typically begin preparing their budget in late September or early October and draft a final document sometime in December ahead of the fiscal year beginning in January.