VERMONT EDUCATIONAL AND HEALTH BUILDINGS FINANCING AGENCY NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Vermont Educational and Health Buildings Financing Agency, Burlington, Vermont (the “Agency”), a body corporate and politic constituting a public instrumentality of the State of Vermont, intends to modify certain terms of its Vermont Educational and Health Buildings Financing Agency Revenue Bond (Gifford Medical Center Project) 2021 Series A (the “2021 Bond”), which will result in a deemed “reissuance” of the 2021 Bond as a qualified 501(c)(3) bond, as defined in Section 145 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”). Upon the deemed reissuance of the 2021 Bond, the proceeds of the deemed reissued 2021 Bond (the “Reissued Bond”) will be deemed to be loaned to Gifford Medical Center, Inc. (the “Corporation”) to refund the 2021 Bond, which is currently outstanding in the principal amount of approximately $12,501,000.
The 2021 Bond was issued to provide funds to the Corporation to refund the Agency’s outstanding Revenue Bond (Gifford Medical Center Project) 2014 Series A, (the “2014 Bond”), which was issued to provide funds to the Corporation to (i) refund the Agency’s outstanding Revenue Bond (Gifford Medical Center Project) 2010 Series A, (the “2010 Bonds”) and (ii) finance a portion of the costs of renovating, reconstructing and equipping its 30-bed skilled nursing facility that was located within the Corporation’s hospital facilities into 25, single-occupancy room, medical/surgery/transitional care units, together with the subsequent relocations of the birthing center and the inpatient physical therapy gym (collectively, the “2014 Project”).
The 2010 Bonds were issued to provide funds to the Corporation to refund the Agency’s outstanding Hospital Revenue Bonds (Gifford Medical Center Project) 2006 Series A, (the “2006 Bonds”), which were issued to provide funds to the Corporation to (i) refund the Agency’s outstanding Variable Rate Demand Hospital Revenue Bonds (Gifford Medical Center Project) 2003 Series A, (the “2003 Bonds”); and (ii) finance a portion of the costs of acquiring, constructing, renovating and equipping capital projects with respect to the Corporation’s medical care facilities, including (a) the construction of a ten-bed addition to the Corporation’s Nursing Home, the renovation and reconfiguring of the Corporation’s Rehabilitative Services Department, Diagnostic Imaging Department, Pharmacy, Laboratory and some of its provider clinics, (b) facility system upgrades, including upgrades of the Corporation’s emergency power systems, coolers, chillers and other upgrades, the addition of a new patient/visitor entrance serving the Obstetrics Department, the Medical Surgical Units, the Swing Bed Unit and the Nursing Home, and upgrades and replacements of medical technology equipment for diagnostic services (including for the Corporation’s Diagnostic Imaging Department, Respiratory Therapy Department, Laboratory and some of its provider clinics), procedural services (including for the Corporation’s Operating Room, Ambulatory Care Department and some of its outpatient clinics), and support services (including for the Corporation’s Information Systems Department and other support departments), and (c) minor renovations, soundproofing, and patient privacy and comfort improvement projects (collectively, the “2006 Project”).
The 2003 Bonds were issued to provide funds to the Corporation to (a) pay a portion of the costs of acquiring, constructing, renovating and equipping capital projects with respect to the Corporation’s medical care facilities, including building, equipment and land infrastructure renovations, in-patient and out-patient renovations, radiology equipment, including nuclear scanners, information systems, patient record renovations and equipment (HIPAA compliance), laboratory analyzers, and surgical equipment and (b) refinance existing taxable debt that financed a portion of the costs of acquiring, constructing, renovating and equipping capital projects with respect to the Corporation’s medical care facilities, including information systems, qualified clinical practice space, land improvements including parking, operating and emergency room renovations and equipment, in-patient area renovations, radiology furnishings and equipment, and new main entrance and patient receiving areas (items (a) and (b) collectively, the “2003 Project”).
The Corporation is and will be the legal owner and principal user of the 2014 Project, the 2006 Project and the 2003 Project (collectively, the “Prior Projects”). The Prior Projects are located at the Corporation’s medical care facilities sites located (a) in Randolph, Vermont at 36-53 South Main Street, 38-44 South Main Street, and 4 Maple Street, (b) in Bethel, Vermont at 1823 VT Route 107, (c) in Sharon, Vermont at 12 Shippee Lane, (d) in Rochester, Vermont at 235 South Main Street, and (e) in Chelsea, Vermont at 356 VT Route 110.
Please Take Notice that the Agency will hold a public hearing, as required by Section 147(f) of the Code, at 11:30 a.m. on March 26, 2026, at which time any person may be heard regarding the modification and deemed reissuance of the Reissued Bond and refinancing of the Prior Projects described above.
The general public may participate in the public hearing by calling the following toll-free telephone number: 877-853-5257 and use meeting I.D.: 354 583 7863, Passcode 013753. Members of the general public may also participate in the public hearing by Zoom. Requests for Zoom access should be submitted to the Agency via email at michael@vtbondagency.org no later than 11:00 a.m. on March 26, 2026.
Written comments may also be submitted to the Agency via email at michael@vtbondagency.org no later than 11:00 a.m. on March 26, 2026.
Documents regarding the proposed Reissued Bond and other public records regarding the Prior Projects described above are in the possession of the Agency and may be viewed on the Agency’s website at http://www.vehbfa.org/non-profit-finance-announcements/.
Any person who decides to appeal any decision made by the Agency with respect to any matter considered at its hearing will need a record of the proceedings. Such person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
| /s/ Michael Gaughan | |
| Executive Director | |
| Vermont Educational and Health Buildings Financing Agency |