During a special meeting Tuesday night of the Geary Community Hospital Board of Trustee’s the board did approve the 2013-2014 financial audit presented to them by BKD CPA’s and Advisers out of Wichita.

One area of concern within the audit involved the amount the Hospital pay’s towards KPERS.

Dr. Joe Stratton, GCH CEO explained that because KPERS is extremely underfunded the State is assessing more and more costs to the employers.

“We have absolutely no control over that. So about every year right now and projected for years to come we add $200,000 to our bottom line as an expense just to stay in the KPERS program,” says Stratton.

He further explained that to extract the Hospital from the program it is extremely difficult and would require a large legal maneuver that is nearly impossible.

On the other hand Stratton did say that the program is a great retirement plan for the employee’s,”so it’s kind of a double edged sword.”

Looking at the overall audit, Jason Barb with BKD did say that GCH isn’t necessarily in a better position or a worse off position than other hospitals of comparable size within the state.

“I would say you’re kind of in the same boat where a lot of folks are that we’re working with in the state,” Barb said.