In May of 2019, we hosted a Special Election asking permission to establish an up-dated tax cap. The original cap was in place when the hospital district was approved in the 1980’s. The FHD Board got approval from the Texas Legislature to have a local election to adopt a new tax cap of $0.25/$100 value. The measure was approved. In September 2019, the FHD Board approved a tax rate of $0.215 that was recommended to provide financial stability for our start-up Medical Center with our back surgeons .
In visiting with many of our citizens, it has become apparent that one of the critical facts has not been effectively explained. Many people believe that if the rollback election is successful on May 2, that the hospital may close, but everything else will be OK. Unfortunately, the three primary medical services that make up Freestone Medical Center are very dependent on each other for financial security.
The FHD Board has adopted the image of a three-legged stool to effectively communicate how important the relationship between the Hospital, ER and Rural Clinic is. If any one of the three legs is damaged or removed, then the whole stool will lose its ability to serve the task that it was made for.
If the rollback election is successful, it will start the slow demise of our local health services that most communities would be proud to have.
The FHD Board appreciates the past and future support of local medical services.
George Robinson – President
Jeff Taylor – Vice –President
Andy Awalt – Secretary
Dr. David Lott – member
Carman Mannen –member
Vance Oglesbee – member
Dr. Brent Moore – member
