Time to read
1 minute
Read so far

Hospital budget, rate proposed

0 comments
Albany News

Proposed budget totals for the Shackelford County Hospital District for 2019 increased about $150,000 more than the current year’s original budget, but that is primarily due to the addition of a new ambulance.

The hospital board worked on budgets for both the district and the clinic at a regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 20, proposing expenditures of $2,972,476 based on the effective tax rate of 20.97 cents, which was also proposed during the evening.

The directors plan to adopt the effective rate along with the budget at their next regular meeting on Sept. 17, following the required budget hearing.

The effective rate is close to one cent more than last year’s rate (19.68 cents) because of slightly lower valuations.

The budget includes the ambulance service, administration, pharmacy, clinic facility, and clinic reimbursement.

Budget Points

Other than expected increases in payroll and jumps in insurance costs, the only major difference in the proposed budget and last year’s was the addition of $150,000 for a new ambulance.

“There is the possibility of a grant to pay for part of a new ambulance, and this amount doesn’t include any grant funding,” explained board president John Ayers. “We may not even make this purchase during 2019, but one of our units has a lot of age, and the box was struck by lightning a few years back, so it probably shouldn’t be moved to a new truck.”

Projected income for the year is $2,972,476.

The budget was proposed on a motion by Leslie Belcher, seconded by Janna Ledbetter.

Proposed Rate

The board formally proposed to adopt the effective tax rate of 20.97 cents.

The effective rate is based on the latest county valuations and is calculated to bring in the same amount as last year’s rate, less new properties.

AirEvac Contract

A motion passed to pay half of AirEvac’s contract for the upcoming year.

Shackelford County has already agreed to pay the other half of the $24,000 total.