It’s an election in the Rockdale Independent School District that doesn’t have anything to do with the schools or students.
Some people participating will be asked whether they want to pay new taxes.
Even though everyone will use the same ballot, it’s actually two separate elections.
And the kicker: Both elections will have to return “yes” votes or the proposal on the ballot will fail.
It is—or to be more accurate they are—the quest by the Rockdale Hospital District to expand the district from its present boundaries to those of the school district.
1994—That would be a big expansion. See map page 8A. It would also be a big change for Rockdale city taxpayers who are the only ones currently paying the 6.5-cent hospital district tax rate.
(Originally, a 16.9-cent rate was discussed but directors said they would be able to enact the 6.5-cent rate for two years by using the district’s reserves. The RHD noted, however, a rate in the neighborhood of 16.9 would be needed if the expansion failed.)
Should the two sections of the school district —inside and outside Rockdale—vote “yes,” Rockdale residents will see their taxes decrease while the others will begin paying a Rockdale Hospital District tax for the first time.
That’s because the tax burden will be spread out over a much larger population base.
Funds are spent by the RHD in support of the CHI-St Joseph’s/HealthPoint Clinic on the campus of the former Richards Memorial Hospital.
Here’s where it gets complex. “Rockdale” in this election means the 1994 city limits of the city.
That’s because when the hospital district was created—on March 15 of that year by a 307-124 vote—it specified its boundaries as those of the Rockdale city limits.
EXPANSION—The city has expanded its boundaries several times since then to take into the city limits such areas as Walmart, the intermediate school, the motel area at US 77 and US 79 and part of Bushdale Road.
Those in such areas should not have been paying the hospital district property tax, which was reimposed last year after a nineyear hiatus.
But they will be paying a hospital district tax for the first time if the Nov. 3 election is successful.
Once again, and it can’t be emphasized enough, both persons inside and outside Rockdale will have to vote “yes” or the proposal will fail.
RAMIFICATIONS— If the election(s) are successful, according to the hospital district, the RHD tax rate will drop from 6.5 cents to less than half-acent (0.44-cents per $100 valuation).
And there are prospects for the tax to go even lower, according to Karolyn Puccio, RHD president.
A 0.44-cent tax on a $96,644 home would result in a tax of $42.52 cents a year, she said.
Puccio als0 said one RHS spreadsheet shows the potential of that tax rate—again, dependent on the hospital district expansion election.
DISSOLVE IT?—Puccio said she was aware some Milam County residents have expressed an interest in dissolving the district entirely.
“The key thing to remember is that The Rockdale Hospital District is mandated to provide indigent care to the citizens in the district, that is its mission,” she said
“This mission is accomplished by the district providing support to the HealthPoint Clinic which is a federally qualified health center and is designed to help those who are indigent or low income.”
“If the hospital district were to be dissolved, the assets would be turned over to Milam County; Milam County would then be responsible for the indigent care, so a tax might be levied by the county to provide those funds,” Puccio said. The requirement for indigent care does not go away even if the hospital district is dissolved.
HOW TO TELL—How can you tell if you are a resident of the Rockdale ISD?
The same way you can tell if you are eligible to vote in a school board election. (There is one of those Nov. 3, also.)
Turn over your orange voter registration card. See the box marked “SCHOOL.” If it says “RKDI”—which is short for “Rockdale Independent School District.
That day there is also an election—current city voters only—asking if the City of Rockdale should convey Fair Park to the Rockdale Fair Association, along with city council and school board elections.
Oh, and we’re also electing a President of the United States.
Much more about that later. For more about the hospital district election see editorial on page 5A.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.