05.28.10
County makes $4.4 million miscalculation on indigent health care
This seems like a pretty big error, Williamson County will have to pay more for indigent care.
Williamson County made a $4 million miscalculation when it determined the maximum amount the state requires it to spend on indigent health care. But that will not change commissioners’ recent decision to eliminate coverage for people without legal Social Security cards, Commissioner Cynthia Long said.
“We believe we made the right decision for the taxpayers of Williamson County,” she said.
County auditors found out May 13 — after meeting with state officials — that the county is now required to spend up to $4.4 million more than it initially anticipated on its indigent health care program, said Julie Kiley , an assistant county auditor.
The state requires the county to spend up to 8 percent of its general tax revenue to provide health care for people who qualify for its indigent program. Once the county reaches the state-mandated cap, the state begins reimbursing the county for additional costs.
County officials initially thought the maximum the county could spend on the program for this budget year was $7.1 million. That amount has now increased to up to $11.5 million, Kiley said.
County officials did not know the revenue also was supposed to include money from the debt tax levy revenue fund, Kiley said. The revenue from that fund added about $50 million to the total revenue amount, she said.
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Long said this week that the county is projecting it will spend double the amount it has budgeted for the indigent health care program. The county budgeted $4 million and appropriated $3.1 million more this spring, and it expects to reach $8 million by the end of the budget year in September, she said.
Commissioner Valerie Covey said the fact that the maximum the county is required to spend has increased is a separate issue from the county’s decision to cut coverage for adults and children without Social Security cards.
In other words the county has to spend $11.5 million dollars this fiscal year on indigent health care. It was originally calculated by “county officials” that the county had to spend $7.1 this year – $4.4 million more. As you may, or may not recall, a few weeks ago the county made a big deal out of cutting off indigent health care for anyone without a valid Social Security card. Saying it was needed to because money was running out to pay for indigent health care this year.
Now we find out they have a significant amount more money that must be spent on indigent health care. And the county, according to Commissioner Long, will not change it’s policy regarding those without a valid Social Security card. This leaves two questions. Who are they going to spend this miscalculated $4.4 million for indigent health care on? Obviously it’s much cheaper, not to mention humane, to treat these people at a doctor’s office when they first get sick, as opposed making their only option the emergency room. The second question is who are these “county officials” that made this “miscalculation”?
Common Sense said,
May 29, 2010 at 12:20 pm
“The second question is who are these “county officials” that made this “miscalculation?”
The same “people” who irresponsibly adopt inadequate tax rates that are SUPPOSED to cover services. The same people who preach of being fiscally conservative but spend like drunken sailors on land for parks and roads and other unnecessary projects. The same folks who would rather keep the tax rate at the wrong level (too low) in effort to keep their political ratings high by avoiding what the feel the public would see as a “tax hike”. When these people don’t listen to the County Auditor who advised the Commissioners Court to adopt a tax rate necessary generate revenue to cover services and they refused for political gamesmanship, ultimately creating this mess, you tell me who made this “miscalculation”.
By not adjusting the tax rate accordingly, they have placed the county in a HUGE hole.
Short and sweet, home values decreased, the Commissioners vote to keep the same tax rate so they can say they either lowered taxes or kept them the same. What they DON’T tell you is by practicing this method, there is MUCH less revenue generated to cover services such as indigent health care, EMS, fire, law enforcement, ect…. Sure you may have had a few thousand new homes come in last year, but with the current tax rate, the existing homes who values decreased generate MUCH less revenue to cover those services. That, combined with the commercial industry which the county heavily relies upon for revenue has slowed to a near halt.
Adjusting the tax rate up a fraction would increase revenues to cover services based on the value of the homes value and not increasing the individuals tax bill. Tax bills would remain virtually the same for the tax payer.
BUT since our elected commissioners court members are more concerned with their own reelection and not doing what is necessary for the well being of our county, the hole of debt becomes deeper. They just don’t get adjusting the tax rate doesn’t necessarily equal an increase in the tax bill to the average citizen. But in order for them to keep their political “we don’t raise taxes” swagger in check, they will ultimately throw the citizens and employees of Williamson County on the proverbial sword.
My question to these commissioners, who will ultimately suffer? The over 1,600 employees of Williamson County by once again cutting their retirement benefits? By cutting an already high health care plan in order to make up the difference? The employees have already been two years without a cost of living increase while their health insurance benefits have shot through the roof. But in reality, I’m sure if you ask any county employee, the pay raises aren’t the issue. They understand times are tough and would for-go a cost of living increase. But to gouge the employees benefits because of a lack of common sense and political salvation is something I’m pretty sure the employees won’t tolerate. They took their jobs knowing the pay was much lower than the private sector for the benefits package Williamson County offered and good working environment of Williamson County. But now, for the same Commissioners who put the budget in this perilous position, want to gut employee benefits to make up the difference in deficit they created?
Commissioner Val Coveys stance? If the employees aren’t happy, they can go elsewhere? Really? No Ms. Covey, you are in OUR house as an elected official. The tax payers house. We just rent you a room. You’re attitude toward county employees and lack of common sense toward the budget causing such a massive deficit, if not changed will require an eviction. You talk of cut cut cut, but will vote to spend millions and millions for roads and parks without hesitation. Your justification? The land will be cheaper to buy now than in the future. Ms. Covey, anyone with any common sense can see this economy isn’t going to get any better for a LONG while. So I really doubt buying a piece of property for a million dollars today will result in the value being too awful much higher in a few years with . Shift some of that money to areas where funds are needed.
Do the right thing Commissioners. Adopt a tax rate that will cover services without gouging employees benefits. After all, the county employees are the backbone of the county. Doerfler, Limmer, Hays and Boatright understood that and put the employees first while creating a surplus to the budget by practicing fiscal conservative common sense, and using the old common sense approach of “if we can’t afford it, no matter how cheap it is we won’t buy it”.
The only thing you seem to care about is your political future….and that is a shame. You may think no one is watching, but believe me, they are.