by Sarah Jane Tribble
MetroHealth System's CEO Dr. Akram Boutros told Cuyahoga County council members Thursday that the hospital is ready if the county cuts nearly 20 percent from what it gives MetroHealth annually.
The hospital has been receiving $40 million dollars from the county each year. In the latest proposed budget, that will drop by more than 7 million dollars.
Still, Boutros told county council members that the hospital won't have to slash progams to make up for that drop in funding.
"We understand they've said this is a very difficult time for them. We understand that we can help support this in the short term for them to get where they need to," Boutros said.
Instead, he said, the hospital will no longer be able to set as much money aside in savings for its planned building project. Boutros said he wants to have a strong partnership with the county as they work toward financing MetroHealth's plans for a new hospital campus. The project costs are expected to be under $1 billion dollars.
MetroHealth’s proposed budget to pay for the new campus should be ready by December, Boutros said.