Travis County Commissioners Court

August 7, 2012 - Item 22
Agenda

22, consider and take appropriate action on the Travis County Healthcare District DBA Central Health 2012 tax rate: a, total maintenance and operations tax rate, b, total debt service tax operations tax rate; and c total debt service tax rate; and total ad valorem tax rate.
Don't let me -- don't let me cut you off, mr. Stevens.
There's a real straightforward and brief explanation of these three rates.

>> There is, the first rate that you mentioned is our o and m rate, the total rate is effective.
A very small debt service rate as you read off there, that rate is for the certificates of obligation that the court worked with us last summer to issue for -- to complete the construction of the north central clinic and the purchase of the v.a.
Facility.

>> Can we just read into the record what those three rates would be?

>> Yes.

>> I think so, sir.

>> Do you not have the rates?

>> I think that's what he's looking for.

>> Read 'em so our listening audience will know exactly what we're talking about.

>> Hang on.
There's a whole lot of details on number 21, no details on number 22, is that the strategy?

>> Seeking adoption of a tax rate of 017599 for operations and maintenance, 01347 for total debt service, for a total ad valorem tax of .078946 for each $100 of valuation.

>> That's why I make a motion to approve.

>> Judge, I second that.
Also, I would like to let everyone out there know in the listening audience, that the central health care, central health unit, also allows 20% homestead exemptions, they also allow the voters -- they also allow the 65 and older, the tax break we just approved, and they also allow disabled, the same thing.
So before you frown at this tax rate, subtract those things from your assessed value and then you apply the tax rate.
I just wants to let everyone know that the health care district, known as Travis County health district, whichever you want to call it, mirrors the same thing that Travis County allows.
Listening audience take that into consideration when we vote on this particular item.

>> Judge?

>> Commissioner.

>> One other thing.
It does mirror all of our tax exemptions, including the historic exemption and also is subject to tax rebate if we vote for a tax rebate to be offered to a particular entity.
And I would ask moving forward that the board take up whether or not those two things are within the health care district's mission.
While preservation of landmarks and land use planning is very much in our crosshairs, I don't believe -- I believe it is highly questionable as to whether it's in the crosshairs of the health care district.
Similarly, while economic development and job creation is absolutely something that's on our plate, I question whether it is something that should be on the health care district's plate.
So while I applaud them for mirroring our homestead exemption and over 65 and disabled, I do question whether it's appropriate for them to mirror us on those two specific issues with regard to tax rate and tax burden shifting.

>> Any more discussion on the month goes?
All in favor?
Any more in favor on the motion?
That passes by unanimous vote.

The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.

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