Jackson Brook Institute announced Friday that Richard Hanley, top executive of Down East Community Hospital in Machias, will become vice president for operations once the South Portland psychiatric hospital is purchased by Maine Medical Center later this month.

Dennis King, chief executive officer of Jackson Brook, said Hanley will help develop an integrated mental health care delivery system for children and adults in central and southern Maine.

Hanley has been the administrator of the Machias hospital for four years.

Carolyn Foster, chairman of the board of trustees at Down East, said Hanley has been instrumental in helping the hospital achieve a consistent, well-planned expansion of services, including the new surgical wing that will be completed March 22.

King said Hanley brings Jackson Brook a rich background in mental health and a penchant for working in partnership with staff to achieve results.

“He will be a tremendous asset to our efforts to further stabilize Jackson Brook’s operations, begin rebuilding employees’ trust, and employ a team approach to enhancing the state of mental health care delivery, both at the hospital and throughout southern Maine,” King said.

Meanwhile Friday, state officials gave a frosty reception to a suggestion that the state pick up two-thirds of the tab for an unexpected $850,000 federal tax bill at Jackson Brook.

Maine Human Services Commissioner Kevin Concannon and Mental Health Commissioner Melodie Peet came out against the proposal by Jackson Brook and its unsecured creditors.

They said the state will go no further than an existing agreement, which requires the state to pick up about 40 percent of the tab, according to DHS spokesman David Winslow.

“The state has already made more than generous financial concessions to the Jackson Brook Institute and its creditors,” Concannon said.

House Speaker Steven Rowe and Senate President Mark Lawrence issued a statement concurring with Concannon’s position.

“The state has already agreed to write off a large portion of Jackson Brook’s debt. Why should we ask taxpayers to absorb any further costs?” the legislative leaders said.

The problems that came to light last week threatened to derail the sale of the financially troubled psychiatric hospital in South Portland to Maine Medical Center for $7.5 million.

A creditors’ committee consisting of unsecured creditors and Jackson Brook officials must reach an agreement by March 17, Concannon said.