Government
BY AUBREY VOGEL
The creation of a hospital district to address health care gaps and mental health in Fort Bend County was set to be voted on at an Aug. 13 Com- missioners Court meeting but wasn’t on the agenda. Instead of placing the proposed county hospital district on the Nov. 5 ballot, the county is pursuing a more in-depth analysis of the program, said Tami Frazier, Fort Bend County communications director. “We believe that this is an important initiative to ensure that Fort Bend County residents have access to quality and affordable health care,” Frazier said in an emailed statement. “It is also our desire that the costs and benefits of any Fort Bend County program are assessed and communicated effectively to the public.” In case you missed it Fort Bend County Health & Human Services proposed adding the creation of a hospital district County hospital district proposition delayed
Sugar Land creates music advisory board At an Aug. 20 meeting, Sugar Land approved the second reading of an ordi- nance to create a music advisory board to further promote the city’s music industry. The board is part of a larger initiative to join the Texas Music Office’s Music Friendly Texas Certified Community Program, which aims to support the commercial music ecosystem across the state by providing a network of like-minded communities. What else? City Council also approved the four board members and city representative. City staff will finish its application to the Texas Music Office and plans to celebrate its certification as a music-friendly city on Oct. 26 at its rescheduled Summer of Sound concert, said Sha Davis, Sugar Land Civic Arts manager.
Proposed district functions
The proposed hospital district would be funded annually by taxpayers with a focus on providing primary care and mental health services for the uninsured. The district aimed to:
$6.8M
Expand the eligibility of the County Indigent Health Care program Create a county health care access card program Develop the Family Medicine Residency Program Develop mental health partnership outreach services Create a mental health drop-off center
$1M
$2M
$710K $2.9M
SOURCE: FORT BEND COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES/COMMUNITY IMPACT
to Nov. 5 election ballots at an Aug. 1 special Commissioners Court meeting. The $12.5 million annual cost would be covered by taxpayers with a tax rate of $0.0106 per $100 property valuation, county officials said. The district would help address health care gaps and mental health issues.
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