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Empower the Travis County Healthcare District

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Three years ago, Travis County voters elected to start providing healthcare in a new way.

They approved the creation of the Travis County Healthcare District, which consolidated health programs in the city and county and became the first step toward a more regional, more effective health system in Central Texas.

Senate Bill 1107, which became law in 2007, helps the District take another step in its development.  This bill establishes that the District can meet its financial obligations, ensures operations are cost-effective and efficient, and puts the district on the same footing as other districts across Texas in regard to the assessment of sales tax.

More specifically, the bill will:

• Authorize the District to issue revenue anticipation notes;
• Clarify the District's contracting authority with other entities;
• Authorize the District to partner with other entities;
• Allow the district to make a capital or other financial contribution to a regional healthcare entity;
• Allow the district to employ physicians;
• Repeal the prohibition on the District assessing a sales and use tax;
• Create a proportionate retirement system for City of Austin employees who transfer to the District; and
• Enable the district to seek prior voter approval of a tax increase above the rollback rate.

I’m proud to help this young agency take these steps toward becoming an institution that will help generations of Central Texans stay healthy and save money.