City Commissioners Jeremy Matlow and Jack Porter released statements critical of the proposed deal brokered between the City of Tallahassee and Florida State University involving the sale of city-owned hospital assets currently leased to Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare.
While Mayor Dailey, City Commissioners Dianne Williams Cox and Curtis Richardson, and FSU President Richard McCullough were upbeat about a deal that could lead to an academic medical center in North Florida, progressive elected officials Jeremy Matlow and Jack Porter released statements saying the deal is bad for Tallahassee.
Matlow said citizens are “being robbed” and “gets screwed” with the deal. Porter assessed the sale as “pennies on the dollar.”
As a part of the proposed agreement, FSU will pay the City of Tallahassee $109 million over the next 30 years for the city-owned hospital property and assets. Currently, the city receives $1 a year from TMH.
The $109 million to be received by the city, is for the land and the assets minus any debt. The debt associated with the land and assets, which is approximately $350 million, is the responsibility of TMH.
In addition, the university will invest at least $100 million in facility upgrades and $150 million in clinical and academic enhancements by Dec. 31, 2034.
Matlow stated, less than 30 minutes after the deal was announced, that “The people of Tallahassee are being robbed in broad daylight and losing a public asset valued at hundreds of millions of dollars for a quarter of the value— and only $3 million a year. This is a continuation of the trend where insiders win in backroom deals and the rest of the public gets screwed.
We deserve better.”
Porter said, “I want to see improved healthcare and an academic health center in Tallahassee—neither of which requires us to sell the hospital,” she said. “But selling one of our greatest public assets without an appraisal for pennies on the dollar with so little opportunity for meaningful community engagement is a bad deal for Tallahassee.”
The City Commission is scheduled to take action on the MOU at the next regularly scheduled January 14, 2026, meeting at 3 p.m. at City Hall.
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FSU is basically using the City to self finance the purchase of TMH for 30 years at no interest. $3 million a year in 30 years is going to be pennies on the dollar due to inflation.
I’m listening to Steve on the radio and he just said; “for those that don’t like the deal, you need to step up and tell us why”.
I’ll tell you why Steve, I don’t trust FSU. I don’t trust them to tell me the time of day!
They told everyone in Leon County they were broke and needed 27 million dollars of blueprint money (aka Leon County taxpayer dollars) for Stadium upgrades. Then they went and spent 50 million on a football coach. I’ll write it again; I don’t trust FSU.
Perhaps the mayor is setting himself up for a cushy job at FSU? The amount that he is giving away with the ridiculously low valuations and the thumb on the scale law firm (where there is a glaring conflict of interest) driving the train, the mayor’s gravy train will keep him in a position for years over at FSU and he doesn’t even have to do anything.
He will resign and Curtis / Williams-Cox will be acting mayor. Curtis/Williams-Cox then will run as mayor against Matlow thinking that being an incumbent will push them over the edge to beat Matlow.
Please pass the popcorn and fasten your seat belts as Tallahassee hits a new low.
IIRC, Its not a public asset. TMH is non profit corporation whose owners are private. To the extent that the city owns the land or assets, then yeah they should be paid for by the state.
The 3 million per year should be interest on the $109 million being loaned to FSU to acquire the hospital. Structuring it any other way makes it an outright gift from the City to the University. Why on Earth is the city giving away it’s assets all of a sudden? Both the and the hospital are/were significant public assets given away without anything even approximating fair compensation to the citizenry.
Hmmmm……… FSU gets to pay $109 Million OVER 30 YEARS and yet, the County gave FSU $27 Million in ONE DAY. Yeah, I will never forget that $27 Million Boondoggle.
QUESTION: If FSU becomes the new owner of the Land, Building and other assets, will this mean that FSU will have to cover the costs of ALL Repairs and Maintenance and Construction?
QUESTION: Since FSU is a State College, will the City (and County) stay out of any Decision making and so forth, as in stay out of their Business, you’re DONE with TMH?
If you answered NO to either or both of those Questions, WHY SELL?
Porter and Matlow have always been on the side of fiscal responsibility as opposed to special interests. Her degrees earned at FSU have served her well as far as protecting and serving the citizens and not special interests.
They are garbage; no smart person cares what they think. They are only stirring up trouble to gain votes. FSU Health is a great opportunity to provide much needed clinical research for the underserved, aging, and rare diseases in children. Let’s get this done ASAP!!!
Can someone explain to me how demanding more money for the property will make healthcare better and more “affordable”.
I hate it when I have to agree with those two…