The entrance to The Miriam Hospital on Summit Avenue in Providence, one of three hospitals in the city owned by Lifespan, which rebranded last month as Brown University Health. The Providence City Council on Thursday backed a new tax treaty in which the hospital group agrees to voluntarily make $1.5 million in payments in lieu of taxes to the city. (Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current)
The 12-2 margin by which the Providence City Council has backed a three-year, $1.5 million voluntary tax deal with Lifespan Corporation seems to suggest strong support.
But city officials instead used their Thursday night vote to air grievances with Lifespan (rebranded last month as Brown University Health) and with the flawed negotiation process.
“I am frustrated and disappointed and pretty sick and tired of a lot of this situation,” Council President Rachel Miller said. “If we say ‘no,’ it’s not a ‘no, go back to the table,’ it’s a ‘no for this year and future years.’ We have very little authority.”
The Brown University Health name is not reflected in the tax treaty with the city of Providence, which still refers to Lifespan.