The Scurry County Hospital District board of directors approved a higher tax rate during today’s meeting.
The board officially adopted the proposed tax rate of 25.38 cents per $100 valuation. The current rate for the district is 20.64 cents. The hospital district’s fiscal year is Jan. 1 through Dec. 31.
Certified valuations show mineral values in Scurry County are down while the value of most residential and commercial properties increased. That means most non-mineral property owners would pay more taxes for their property at the existing rates.
A public hearing on the proposed rate was not required since the proposed rate was below the effective rate.
The tax rate will help fund a deficit budget in 2016. The budget includes $34 million in expenses and $28 million in revenue. Of the expenses, $5.5 million was bad debt.
Also during today’s meeting, the board held a conference call in closed session with its attorney to discuss a proposal from U.S. Consults.
Following the one hour, 45 minute closed session, the board approved giving Ella Raye Helms, Cogdell Memorial Hospital’s chief executive officer, the authority to execute an addendum to the contract with U.S. Consults pending the approval of documents from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Office.
The vote was unanimous.
In June, the board, on a split vote, approved a contract with the company, which is pursuing financial opportunities within the county.
The company requires governing bodies to sign non-disclosure agreements before discussing how it secures additional sources of revenue for them.
While discussing the contract in June, Helms said the additional sources of revenue would be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
Prior to the closed session, the board approved nursing and business office policies and procedures.