The budget has an over $20 million increase from last year, funded in part by an increase in property tax revenue and tobacco litigation settlement, which together brought in $286.1 million.
Central Health was able to lower its property tax rate to $0.09868 per $100 valuation—down from $0.11181 in FY 2021-22—while still bringing in additional revenue due to rising property values in Travis County.
The median taxable residential property value in 2022 is $338,344, according to the Travis Central Appraisal District. At Central Health’s FY 2023 rate, the median taxpayer would pay about $333.88 annually, a $44 savings from last year.
Central Health’s projected expenses are at $302.32 million. The $1.6 million difference between Central Health’s revenue and expenses will be covered through contingency reserves, or essential emergency savings, said Charles Bell, the chair of the Central Health board of managers.
The proposed budget and tax rate will be voted on by Travis County commissioners on Sept. 20 and take effect at the start of FY 2022-23 on Oct. 1.
The budget includes increased services for low-income residents, a topic Central Health has recently come under fire for by several community groups.
These services include a renovated Rosewood-Zaragosa health center that will open in 2023 and two new health and wellness centers in Del Valle and Hornsby Bend. Central Health will also continue to develop its health and wellness center in Colony Park.
The increased budget will go toward neurology, nephrology, cardiology, gastroenterology, podiatry and pulmonology specialists and support teams that will shorten wait times for patients, according to a press release.
