HARRISON, Arkansas, August 7, 2018 - North Arkansas Regional Medical Center (NARMC) has been notified that Judge Russell Rogers has found in favor of the hospital in the appeal case between NARMC and Boone County Assessor Karen Hardesty.
The June 4 trial considered if NARMC, a 501c3 corporation, should pay taxes on hospital property. Judge Rogers said NARMC had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt and that non-profit property cannot be taxed.
“We are extremely pleased with this ruling because we believe this decision impacts all 501c3 organizations in our community, not just NARMC. County Assessor Hardesty’s position on this issue would have made many local not for profit 501c3 organizations subject to tax. If the County Assessor could tax our hospital, then she could easily tax local non-profits such as Share and Care, the Humane Society and the many other tax exempt organizations that provide vital services to our community,” said Vince Leist, NARMC CEO.
NARMC attorney John Baker said, “If the county decides to appeal this ruling, which is certainly their right, we will look forward to proving our case to the high court.”
About NARMC:
NARMC is an innovative, non-profit healthcare system consisting of a central hospital in Harrison, Arkansas, and 18 clinics serving the rural communities of North Arkansas. More than 850 NARMC employees work together to provide a comprehensive range of healthcare services. As one of the Top 100 Rural Hospitals in the nation according to the Rural Health Policy Institute, NARMC has earned numerous 5-Star ratings from Healthgrades and consistently ranks high in patient satisfaction in Press Ganey ratings. A two-time recipient of the Arkansas Governor’s Quality Achievement Award, NARMC is committed to providing the best in care, close to home.