The Ector County Hospital District Board of Directors Tuesday unanimously approved putting a measure on the November ballot, asking voters to increase the Ector County Hospital District’s tax cap from 15 cents to 75 cents.
The vote was made during the regularly scheduled board meeting Aug. 6.
This is the first step in a series of measures aimed to expand Fire & EMS services in Ector County. On July 17, MCH and the City of Odessa entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, while the City of Odessa and Ector County did the same, all agreeing to work together on bringing expanded fire and EMS services to the entire county. In the proposed agreement, which will require voter approval on a series of measures, MCH would take over the collection and appropriation of funding for fire and EMS in the county, while the city will continue to manage those services.
As part of the agreement, MCH has agreed to fund future expansion of Fire & EMS services in areas that are currently underserved and/or long distances from healthcare facilities.
“This initial measure is not a vote to increase taxes,” says Russell Tippin, President and CEO, Medical Center Health System. “It simply allows us to continue to move forward transparently in our goal to improve and expand Fire & EMS Services in Ector County as jointly agreed by all three entities.”
For more information regarding this ballot measure and the possible expansion of fire and EMS Services in Ector County as part of this collective agreement pending voter approval, visit mchodessa.com/fireemsinfo.
