Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Guide
Thursday, October 13, 1960, page 11 (of 16)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
Is Doctors' Hospital Entitled To Exemption?
By EDWIN KNIGHT Following a recent spot audit of Doctors' Hospital's books, Coral Gables Tax Assessor T. C. Blount is of the opinion that the hospital does not meet the requirements that exempt the medical institution from paying city ad valorem taxes. Doctors' Hospital has been exempted from paying real and personal property taxes for the years 1958, 1959 and 1960. Why? This was the subject of an informal inquiry conducted by the Coral Gables City Commission in the Red Room of Coral Gables Country Club last week. 13-Page Report Attending the meeting were Blount, City Finance Director Kenneth Allyn and City Auditor Paul Gleman. It was Gleman who conducted the recent audit which covered 13 pages and takes in the financial standing of Doctors' Hospital. At the conclusion of the hour-long inquiry, the Commission decided to take no action until it meets again next July when it sits as a Board of Equalization. The meeting centered around questions fired at Blount by members of the Commission. Blount told of the background of the hospital's tax exemption, which put the exemption squarely upon the shoulders of the 1958 city commission. Previews Ruling Blount brought out that he, in 1958, brought to the Commission's attention the fact that he didn't believe the hospital met the qualifications exempting it from paying city taxes. Blount added that he was overridden by the commission at that time on advice of City Attorney Ted Semple, who ruled again at the Tuesday session that the city may be beaten if it took the case to court. Blount said precedent dictates that once an institution is exempt from paying taxes, the exemption usually carries over from year to year. Blount said he assumed the commission wanted the exemption carried over for the years 1959 and 1960. No Harsh Words There were no loud or harsh words at the meeting. There was no placing of the blame on anyone. But it was determined that between now and the time that the City Commission meets next July as a Board of Equalization, the city tax assessor (Blount) will delve further into the audit to determine whether the city has a case against Doctors' Hospital. As it stands now, Blount is of the opinion that the hospital should have been taxed for three years. But Blount's opinion differs from that of City Attorney Semple. So the uppermost question still remains — Is the Dr. John T. MacDonald Foundation, which operates Doctors' Hospital, properly organized and operated to receive exemption from assessment of ad valorem taxes as a non profit and/or charitable institution? Goes Into History The audit report goes into the foundation's history, the scope of the investigation, the results of the investigation and comments and recommendations. The audit brought out that: • The Foundation's Charter and its objectives bear a similarity. • Payments are demanded of those able to pay. • Surplus income over expenses must be used for one of four things: to improve hospital, charity, education or research. • Patients who apply for services at the hospital are accepted even though financial responsibility is not established or, in effect, all who seek are furnished service. • No label is attached to charity patients, not even the nurses know such a condition exists and treatment of paying and non-paying patients is identical. $40,000 Exemption City Finance Director said that had the hospital not received the exemption, the city would have received about $40,000 over the three-year period. The spot audit of the hospital's books was ordered recently by the City to determine its tax exemption eligibility. Blount said only an audit would determine this. The condition was brought to the city's attention by Attorney Bernard Weksler who claimed that the hospital was not eligible for the exemption.
Jardine Picks Brown
Peter F. Jardine, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jardine, of 1444 Cecilia, has enrolled as a freshman at Brown University in Providence, R. I. A graduate of Loomis School in Windsor, Connecticut, Jardine is a candidate for the bachelor of arts degree.
W. Palm Trip Planned
Coral Gables city commissioners are making plans to attend the Florida League of Municipalities meeting in West Palm Beach Oct. 31.
Banking Empire Breaking Up
Coral Gables First National Bank, 100 Miracle Mile, has been sold by James Sottile Jr., for a reported $3,685,000 to Houston, Texas, financier Jacques Mossler. The owner of several banks in Texas and the Central Bank and Trust Co., of Miami, Mossler bought 89 percent of the Coral Gables bank stock in a cash transaction. Sottile, in the process of selling all his seven Florida banks, has sold three of the banks so far and is dickering now for the sale of the Pan American Bank of Miami. Sale of the Coral Gables bank brings to $16,385,000 the amount of properties Sottile, Inc., has sold in the past few months. Mossler owns the Mutual National Bank, Houston, Service Trust Co., of San Antonio, American Trust Co., of South Bend, Ind., two insurance companies and a finance company. "We're going to build a stronger bank in Coral Gables," Mossler said this week. Coral Gables First National has total resources of nearly $46 million and deposits of some $42 million.
Roal
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