For the purposes of this article, public agencies are authorized and empowered to enter into loan agreements (including agreements of lease) with any county board to facilitate the financing, acquiring, constructing, improving, enlarging, expanding, equipping, providing, operating and maintaining of hospital facilities and pursuant to any such loan agreement to operate, repair and maintain any hospital facilities and to pay the cost thereof from any funds available for such purpose and the payments required therefor.
S.C. Code § 44-7-1500