Bell County hospital district proposal on November ballot

A proposal to establish a Bell County Hospital District will appear on the November 3 general election ballot. The proposition includes a maximum property tax of $0.75 per $100 valuation.

Under Texas law, a county with at least 190,000 inhabitants that lacks a hospital system for indigent or needy persons may create a countywide district to provide medical aid. The district could potentially issue debt to build a hospital, operate clinics, or contract with existing local hospitals.

Bell County Commissioner Louie Minor stated that the district could potentially take over free clinics in Temple and Killeen currently operated by the Bell County Public Health District. The county currently spends approximately $10 million annually on indigent healthcare, including services for jail inmates and community health.