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Public Hearing Notice - TEFRA Alachua County Health Facilities Authority

Public Hearing Notice - TEFRA Alachua County Health Facilities Authority

Public Notice TEFRA header


NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

            NOTICE is also hereby given of a public hearing pursuant to Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to be held by the Alachua County Health Facilities Authority, Alachua County, Florida (the "Authority"), on April 20, 2020, at 4:00 P.M., at the offices of Chandler, Lang, Haswell & Cole, P.A. located at 726 N.E. 1st Street, Gainesville, Florida 33601 concerning the issuance by the Authority in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $200,000,000 of its Health Facilities Revenue Bonds (Shands Teaching Hospital and Clinics, Inc.), Series 2020 (the "Bonds"), in one or more series, for the principal purpose of refinancing assets previously financed with proceeds of (i) the City of Leesburg, Florida, Hospital Revenue Refunding Bonds (Central Florida Health Alliance Projects), Series 2011, currently outstanding in the aggregate principal amount of $55,420,000 (the "2011 Bonds'), (ii) the Sumter County Industrial Development Authority, Hospital Revenue Bonds (Central Florida Health Alliance Projects), Series 2014A currently outstanding in the aggregate principal amount of $45,615,000 (the "2014A Bonds"), (iii) the Sumter County Industrial Development Authority, Hospital Revenue Bonds (Central Florida Health Alliance Projects), Series 2014B currently outstanding in the aggregate principal amount of $30,265,000(the "2014B Bonds"), and (iv) the City of Leesburg, Florida, Hospital Revenue Refunding Bonds (Central Florida Health Projects), Series 2017 currently outstanding in the aggregate principal amount of $28,985,000 (the "2017 Bonds" and, together with the 2011 Bonds, the 2014A Bonds and the 2014B Bonds, the "Prior Bonds").

The Prior Bonds were issued as "qualified 501(c)(3) bonds" for the primary purpose of financing or refinancing (i) capital improvements to the healthcare facilities owned by Leesburg Regional Medical Center, Inc. ("LRMC") located on the main campus of the Leesburg Regional Medical Center at 600 East Dixie Avenue, Leesburg, Florida (the "LRMC Main Campus") and (ii) capital improvements comprising The Villages Regional Hospital and improvements thereto owned by The Villages Tri-County Medical Center, Inc. ("TVRH") and located at 1451 El Camino Real, The Villages, Florida (the "TVRH Main Campus").  Not to exceed $43,000,000 of the proceeds of the Bonds will be allocated to the refinancing of healthcare facilities located on the LRMC Main Campus owned by LRMC.  Not to exceed $157,000,000 of the proceeds of the Bonds will be allocated to the refinancing of healthcare facilities located on the TVRH Main Campus owned by TVRH.  The refinancing of the healthcare facilities located on the LRMC Main Campus and the TVRH Main Campus is being undertaken in connection with Shands Teaching Hospital and Clinics, Inc. ("Shands"), becoming the sole corporate member of Central Florida Health, Inc. ("CFH") on January 1, 2020.  CFH is the sole corporate member of both LRMC and TVRH.

Subsequent to the hearing, the City Commission of the City of Leesburg, Florida (the "City") will consider the approval of the Bonds pursuant to Section 147(f) of the Code with respect to the portion of the Bonds allocable to the LRMC Main Campus located in the City.

The Bonds and the interest thereon will be limited obligations of the Authority payable solely from the revenues and other moneys derived by the Authority from a loan agreement and other financing instruments to be entered into by and between the Authority and Shands, and other affiliated entities, prior to or contemporaneously with the issuance of the Bonds.  The Bonds will not constitute a general indebtedness or a charge against the general credit of the Authority or the County.  Neither the full faith nor credit of the Authority, the State of Florida, Alachua County, Florida, Sumter County, Florida, or any political subdivision thereof, will be pledged to the payment of the principal of and interest on the Bonds.

The aforementioned meeting shall be a public hearing and all persons who may be interested will be given an opportunity to be heard concerning the issuance of the Bonds for the purpose stated above. Written comments may also be submitted to the Authority prior to the hearing at Chandler, Lang, Haswell & Cole, 726 N.E. First Street, Gainesville, Florida 33601, Attention John H. Haswell, Esq., Authority Attorney.  ALL PERSONS FOR OR AGAINST SAID APPROVAL CAN BE HEARD AT SAID TIME AND PLACE. IF A PERSON DECIDES TO APPEAL ANY DECISION MADE BY THE AUTHORITY WITH RESPECT TO SUCH HEARING, (S)HE WILL NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD OF SUCH HEARING IS MADE, WHICH RECORD INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON WHICH THE APPEAL IS BASED.

Comments made at the hearing are for the consideration of the Board of County Commissioners of Alachua County, Florida (the "Alachua County Board"), the Board of County Commissioners of Sumter County, Florida (the "Sumter County Board") and the City Council of the City of Leesburg, Florida (the "Leesburg City Commission") and the Authority and will not bind any legal action to be taken by the Alachua County Board, the Sumter County Board, the Leesburg City Commission or the Authority in connection with the consideration and approval of the financing and the issuance of the Bonds.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the Authority's office not later than seven (7) days prior to the proceeding at the address given in this notice. Telephone: (352) 376-5226.

            It is intended that this public hearing shall comply with the Governor’s Executive Order Number 20-91 regarding Essential Services and Activities During COVID-19 Emergency. Although an in-person hearing will be held as required by IRS Regulations, interested persons are encouraged to attend by telephone conference using the instructions below.  Any persons wishing to present oral comments in person must notify the Authority at the above address for written comments by written notice at least 24 hours before the hearing, in order that social distancing accommodations may be made for those in attendance.  The toll-free dial-in telephone conference number in order to attend the meeting by phone is: (888) 857-8249, when prompted please use conference code: 1207176814#.

            By order of the Alachua County Health Facilities Authority.

April 13, 2020

ALACHUA COUNTY HEALTH FACILITIES AUTHORITY