Pike County Memorial Hospital may team up with the Pike County Health Department, Home Health and Hospice.

Hospital CEO Justin Selle outlined the proposed joint venture Thursday. He said the merger would be a great opportunity to avoid duplicated services, build new facilities and expand health care opportunities.

There would be no job losses, tax increases or facility closures. However, voters could be asked as early as next April to shift a tax that supports the health department to the hospital.

State lawmakers also would have to dissolve the health department board after a merger contract is signed.

Selle said both institutions are financially sound and that cost savings from the move could be poured back into expanded services. The health department has 30 employees and the hospital has about 200.

Before joining Pike County Memorial in Louisiana, Selle was administrator of the health department for five years and led the campaign to build a state-of-the-art facility near Walmart in Bowling Green. The site has eight acres for growth.

If everything falls into place, the joint venture could occur as soon as July 2016.