Central Health sets maximum property tax rate for 2020

On Wednesday night, the Central Health Board of Managers voted to cap the Fiscal Year 2020 property tax rate at a maximum increase of 6.9 percent, which is estimated to raise $214.9 million in property taxes to pay for the health care of Travis County’s low-income residents. At that maximum tax rate, the average increase for a Travis County property owner would be approximately $24 per year. “The board asked our staff to look seven years down the road as we prepared next year’s budget and proposed tax rate,” said Mike Geeslin, president and CEO of Central Health, in a press release. “Here’s what we know: our patient population will continue to grow as it has almost every year, we will continue to expand health care services in underserved communities and we’ll receive fewer federal dollars to pay for local health care.” The public will have an opportunity to comment on the FY 2020 tax rate (and budget) during public hearings scheduled for Sept. 11 and Sept. 18 at 5:30 p.m. at Central Health headquarters, 1111 E. Cesar Chavez St. After public input, the board is scheduled to vote on the actual FY 2020 tax rate on Sept. 25. The Travis County Commissioners Court, which has the final say over Central Health’s tax rate and budget, will vote on the new tax rate on Oct. 1.