URBANA -- When local taxing authorities considered Provena Covenant Medical Center's request for charitable tax exemptions for the 2010 tax year, they decided nothing has changed.

That is, the Illinois Supreme Court already decided the hospital wasn't used exclusively for charitable purposes for the 2002 tax year, said Champaign County Board of Review Chairman Wayne Williams.

"We didn't feel anything has changed to warrant an exemption," he said.

Williams said he delivered the board's recommendation to deny exemptions for all 68 Covenant-owned hospital parcels in Urbana to the Illinois Department of Revenue around March 9. The department will make the final determination on whether the hospital gets a property tax exemption for the 2010 tax year.

When that will be, department spokeswoman Sue Hofer said, hasn't been decided. However, she added, revenue Director Brian Hamer "is hopeful we can move on these soon."

The decision for 2010 isn't the only one affecting Provena Covenant's taxable status that is pending before the Department of Revenue.

The hospital in January argued its case for tax exemptions on its Urbana properties before an administrative law judge for tax years 2003 through 2006, and a final decision on those years is expected to come some time this summer.

The state Supreme Court found Covenant properties taxable for 2002. But Provena officials hope a favorable determination from the Department of Revenue on tax years 2003 through 2006 will carry a tax-exempt status for the hospital forward.

The tax exemptions are worth millions of dollars to Covenant and local governments, depending on the outcome.

Earlier this year, Provena was forced to pay $10,067,798 for tax years 2002-2009, $1.2 million of which was paid last year. The city of Urbana is holding most of the money in the bank, in the event that the hospital wins and is entitled to a refund.