May 16, 2004
Good News for Austin Hospitals, Firefighters
By Byron LaMasters
The Austin Firefighters have won Collective Bargaining Rights:
Austin firefighters were winning the ability to force city officials into contract negotiations concerning issues such as pay, benefits and working conditions late Saturday.
With most precincts reporting, voters were supporting by about a 60-40 margin a measure to require collective bargaining. City officials, who are responsible for launching negotiations, said they probably would begin talks with the Austin Association of Professional Firefighters by Nov. 1.
And great news for Travis County Health Care as well:
A Travis County hospital district was easily approved Saturday, despite growing distaste for property taxes and opponents' warnings that tax bills would escalate as more people come to the district for health services.
The hospital district, expected to be established later this year, would be the first broad-based taxing authority in the area since Capital Metro was born in the mid-1980s. Tax rates in the district would be capped at 25 cents per $100 of property value.
Now city and county leaders face the task of setting up the board and appointing members.
[...]
Right now, Austin residents contribute 7.3 cents per $100 of property valuation to public health: 6 cents in city taxes and 1.3 cents in county taxes. Counting exemptions, that brings the total tax bill for health care to $134 on a home valued at $191,240, the average in Travis County in 2003.
Residents outside the city pay 1.3 cents for health care, or about $20, counting exemptions, on the same value house.
If, as expected, the district sets a countywide tax rate of 7.3 cents, city residents would pay slightly less than they do now because the health care portion of their overall tax bill would enjoy the benefit of tax exemptions allowed by the county. And county residents outside the city would pay about $92 more. The average homeowner in the district would pay about $111 in total health care taxes until taxes rise.
Travis County is still growing significantly. The Health Care District will help us maintain quality health care for all Travis County residents. It's a good day for Central Texas.
Posted by Byron LaMasters at May 16, 2004 12:14 AM
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Unfortunately, the TCHCD board with the authority to raise all of our taxes is appointed, not elected. This lack of accountability over those with direct and highly influential control over tax is unacceptable.
How long before we hit the $0.25 per $100 cap? My guess is less than 5 years, at which point we'll see another ballot to raise or *shudder* remove the cap.
Yet another piglet suckling the at the teet of the taxpayer. This vote had two big winners:
1) The hospital business looking for a handout from the taxpayer's wallets (This no different than a pro-sport team getting a taxpayer subsidized stadium)
2) The beggars who are now firmly entrenched on every streetcorner in Austin who are too lazy to find jobs and see to their own healthcare.
Seriously why even work anymore? The socialists and democrats (and, unfortunately Republicans as well) have made it so convienient to not work that we are incenting all the wrong behavior.
Want more welfare - have more kids!
Want free healthcare - go to your local hospital!
etc...
vs.
Want to set up your own small business? Welcome to the supremely complicated small business tax system!
This un-spellchecked middle of the night rant was brought to you by Paul...
"The beggars who are now firmly entrenched on every streetcorner in Austin who are too lazy to find jobs and see to their own healthcare.
Seriously why even work anymore? The socialists and democrats (and, unfortunately Republicans as well) have made it so convienient to not work that we are incenting all the wrong behavior."
So, Paul, how's the weather in your protected bubble on Fantasy Land Avenue?
Are you one of those compassionate conservatives who claims to feel for the working poor and then pulls out the sharpest knife in the drawer, one perfect for their backs? Do you even realize that most poor people do work? As a matter of fact, many middle-class people don't even work now, thanks to your "pResident".
Also--do you have kids? Do you go out in public at all when you leave Fantasy Land? Do you want to share a space with someone with a communicable disease? How about any kids you have or may have?
Convenient not to work? Puh-leeez!!! You have obviously never been poor. It is not "convenient" for anyone not to work--especially when you have kids and bills. Free and reduced-cost healthcare is one thing that people should have. When your kids are crying in the night from illness, and you're trying to figure out if you're paying for food or shelter that month, heathcare is not something you should have to worry about. Your post is callous, and frankly, horribly shortshighted. I am also quite amused that you think people have kids just to collect extra welfare--yeah, the U.S. government is soooo generous with that welfare--so THAT'S who lives in those mansions in west Austin!!! Thanks for letting me know, Paul! If you hate poor people so much, then why don't you open a job center or shelter or at least volunteer to make a difference in someone's life instead of spreading invective?
free and reduce healthcare for all - what a load of bullshit.
