Fairfield Hospital District (FHD) asked voters for a “helping hand,” and the response was overwhelming.
Eighty-six percent of voters cast their ballots “FOR” the proposal to raise the tax rate cap from .12 cents to .25 cents.
“This will allow us the opportunity to take a breath,” said John Yeary, CEO of Freestone Medical Center, during an information session about the hospital district’s proposed increase.
FHD has made a successful transition from a lease agreement with East Texas Medical Center (ETMC), an established hospital company, to creating an entirely new hospital entity from scratch.
In fact, of the seven hospital facilities released by ETMC, Freestone Medical Center is the only one that has remained open continuously.
With the welcome help from voters, FHD Board President George Robinson said that, ultimately, “Our goal for the hospital campus is to operate independent of taxpayers.”
With the assistance of taxpayers, Robinson says he is confident that Fairfield’s hospital district will accomplish that goal.
The actual tax rate will be set later this year. Hospital board members have stated that while a raise in the tax rate is expected, they do not expect to raise it to the full amount of the tax rate cap.
With total registered voters just over six thousand, voter turnout in this election was at ten percent.
Final results for Proposition A for Fairfield Hospital District are as follows:
FOR – 493
AGAINST – 78
