WHAT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT?

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Finally, after waiting with bated breath, the wording that will appear on the ballot for the special election on the proposed Cameron County Healthcare District has come down from Austin.  Consequently, and for the information of the electorate, the wording is as follows:

 "The creation of the Cameron County Healthcare District, providing for the imposition of an ad valorem tax at a rate determined by the board of directors of the district, which rate may not exceed 25 cents on each $100 valuation of all taxable property in the district.  District funds shall be used for district purposes, including providing medical and hospital care for the needy inhabitants of Cameron County, improving health care services for inhabitants of Cameron County, supporting the School of Medicine at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, training physicians, nurses and other health care professionals, obtaining federal or state funds for health care services, and providing community health clinics, primary care services and prevention and wellness programs."

 As you read through this proposition, it is important to remember that the board that will be administering the program will be APPOINTED by local politicians.  That means that board members will NOT BE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU, the taxpayer.  And, once established, it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the electorate to vote the healthcare district out of existence.  This taxing district will not have board members directly elected by voters in the manner of the Texas Southmost College District, or of local directly-elected school boards.

 All of the services mentioned in this proposition are being provided by currently existing agencies and programs.  To mention just a few:

 1.  Medicaid
2.  CHIPS
3.  The Health Services Resource Administration
4.  The Department of Aging and Disability (DADs programs)
5.  The Texas Department of Health and Human Services
6.  Community Medical Centers

Finally, one of the announced goals for the district is the support of the new UTRGV Medical School, which will be part of one of the most richly endowed state university systems in the United States.  Why, for goodness sakes, does that system need property taxes from one of the poorest counties in the country?

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