MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Shelby County is going to have to figure out a new way to pay for any future growth at Regional One. Mayor Lee Harris' proposed "Wheel Tax" failed to pass at a county commission meeting Monday night.
It would have doubled the wheel tax from $50 to $100 and would have expanded the reimbursement program up to a yearly income of $39,000
That increase was going to be used to build a brand new Regional One in partnership with the city and state.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools would have gotten two news schools out of the deal as well.
Now it's unclear where that funding will come from.
According to Shelby County documents obtained by ABC24, the one million square foot campus has six buildings:
- Rout Women’s Hospital – 65 years old
- Power Plant and Laundry – 80 years old
- Chandler – 59 years old
- Medplex – 27 years old
- Turner Tower – 30 years old
- Jefferson Pavilion – 40 years old
Half of the buildings are more than 50 years old, which is past the normal lifespan of a healthcare building, according to the documents.
Regional One Health is the only Level One trauma center in the Mid-South.
Still, according to documents obtained by ABC24, the main campus has "physical plant challenges that pose significant risk to the long-term viability of the health system."
These documents state:
"The buildings do not meet current seismic standards."
"The layout and design is not compatible with 21st century medicine, and the campus has "a 75 year old power plant."