TIFTON, Ga. — The Tift County Hospital Authority approved the Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget for the Tift Regional Medical System at its Sept. 19 meeting.

The budget’s projected total operating revenue is $436 million, a 6.3 increase from the previous year.

Total operating expenses are set at $421 million, an 8.3 percent increase from FY 2017-18’s $389 million.

The budget projects $29 million in net income for TRMS, down from $35 million from the previous fiscal year.

“Overall, I feel the budget is conservative,” said Kim Wills, senior vice-president and chief financial officer. “It does represent a reduction from our current state due to the [restructuring] changes and the investment we’ve made into our IT system.”

“Our big capital projects and our restructuring scheduled for Jan. 1 is really what’s driving it this year,” Wills added.

The budget calls for $27 million in spending towards the new emergency room and patient tower project. The total cost for that project is expected to be $152 million.

The project is tentatively set for completion in June 2021.

“So next year, FY 2020 would be the year we’d spend the majority of the funds, I’d anticipate,” said Wills.

The budget also includes $47 million in spending towards the Cook Medical Center replacement facility.

Also at the meeting, the board approved a $350,000 renovation to the former Rudy’s Pharmacy. After the renovations, the Employee Pharmacy and the Diabetes Learning Center will be transferred to the building.

The renovations include a new roof and ceiling, expanded plumbing, new electrical, new flooring and HVAC replacement, among other things.