* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.
          [00:00:06]
          ... ... 
          >> >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  IT IS 1:05:00 P.M. I'M CALLING THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT COURT TO ORDER.  DO I NEED TO CALL ANY PARTICULAR KIND OF MEETING?  IS THERE ANYTHING YOU NEED ME TO SAY? 
          >>  NO.  JUDGE THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.  THAT'S HOW IT'S STYLED.  WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.  THE 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  PERFECT. COMMISSIONER. 
          >>  PLEASE. (LAUGHTER) 
          >> OUR FATHER IS SO GOOD TO GATHER AND CONSIDER THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS.  GIVE US YOUR SENSE, DIRECTION AND ULTIMATE PURPOSE. 
          WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE PRESENTED TO US.  AND GIVE US YOUR KIND DIRECTION.  THESE THINGS WE ASK 
          IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AMEN. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  AMEN. 
          [Departments (Part 1 of 3)]
SO WE'RE HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE TAX RATES FOR HARRIS COUNTY, THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND THE PORT OF HOUSTON.  WE HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS.  COMMISSIONER RAMSEY REQUESTED TO MAKE COMMENTS AT 
          THE OUTSET. >> COMMISSIONER:  THANK YOU, JUDGE.  I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER UP ONE MORE TAX BREAK, PROPOSED TAX BREAK.  I'M DOING THIS IN THE SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE.  I THINK COMMISSIONER ELLIS ENCOURAGED ME TO CONSIDER THAT, AND I DID. 
          THAT'S THE CONTEXT I BRING THIS. SO I'M WORKING REAL HARD TODAY NOT TO GO THE PARSING ROUTE BUT PUT SOMETHING ON THE TABLE THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO US. THE PROPOSAL I PUT UP THERE IS ADOPT A TAX RATE OF .57866. I'LL LIST OUT WHAT THAT IS.  BUT THAT'S A TAX RATE THAT FULLY FUNDS HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.  IT FLOODS THE RECOMMENDED RATE FOR HARRIS COUNTY THAT OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REFERENCED. 
          IT DOES REDUCE THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT.  THE BOTTOM LINE, IT DOES REDUCE REVENUES $20 MILLION.  SO THAT'S AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THIS RATE DOES. IT'S A REDUCTION IN TAX REVENUES OF $20 MILLION.  SO THE DETAILS OF THAT RATE -- I'LL READ THAT FOR THE RECORD TO GET THAT ON THERE, AND THEN, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR CONVERSATIONS RELATED TO IT FOR HARRIS COUNTY RATE TO THE RATE OF .33500 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS.  AND .04193 FOR DEBT SERVICE FOR TOTAL TAX RATE OF .37693.  FOR HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, A RATE OF .02599. 
          FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, AT .00750.  FOR DEBT SERVICE FOR TOTAL TAX RATE OF .003349.  FOR THE HOSPITAL, HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE OF .15778.  AND .00174 FOR DEBT SERVICE FOR A TOTAL RATE OF .15952.  FOR THE PORT OF HOUSTON AUTHORITY, DEBT SERVICE RATE OF .00872.  AND FOR ALL HARRIS COUNTY TOTAL TAX RATE WOULD BE AS A REFERENCE TO EARLIER, .57866.  THAT WOULD BE MY 
          MOTION. >> COMMISSIONER, I WANT TO THANK YOU.  SO I WASN'T BEING FACETIOUS WHEN I SAID WE SHOULD HOLD HANDS.  (INDISCERNIBLE) LOOK, ALL OF US HAVE STRONG POSITIONS AND STRONG PERSONALITIES.  MIGHT I ADD.  AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK IT'S ALWAYS BETTER IF IN ADDITION TO WHATEVER PARTISAN TENDENCIES AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WANT THE PLACE TO WORK.  SO I KNOW WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC. 
          AND I'M NOT GOING TO DELAY THAT. I KNOW WE'LL GET TO DISCUSS IT LATER.  BUT YOU KNOW, YOUR PREDECESSOR, I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT, ONE COLLEAGUE SHOT HIS BULLET WITH ME AND AGREED WHEN WE WOULD HAVE THE BOND ELECTION FOR HARVEY.  AND I SENSE THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S PREDECESSOR AGREED WITH ME AS WELL.  WHEN IT DIDN'T WORK OUT, I VOTED NO.  AND THEN, YOUR PREDECESSOR SAID I HOPE YOU'LL THINK ABOUT THAT. 
          BECAUSE YOU GOT MOST OF WHAT YOU WANTED IN HERE.  BUT IF YOU VOTE 
          [00:05:04]
NO, YOU ARE MIGHT WELL KILL THIS BOND ISSUE.  IT WAS THE OLD ASSUMPTION, MY SIDE OF TOWN WOULD BE MORE APPLICABLE FOR IT. 
          THIS ELECTION DIDN'T TURN THAT OUT THAT WAY.  EVERYBODY VOTED. 
          I THOUGHT WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THE ELECTION, REMEMBER COMMISSIONER KAY HILL.  MORE PEOPLE WOULD SHOW UP.  HE AND I DIDN'T AGREE D ON MUCH, BUT HE KIND OF TOUCHED ME AND I DID COMPROMISE ON THAT, AND I'M GLAD I DID.  SO I'M GLAD YOU DID.  I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC.  I MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS IN CASE I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT WHEN WE WALK THROUGH IT.  IT'S SO MOVED.  AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, MAYBE WE'LL FIND IT IN OUR HEARTS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE WILL BE.  THANK YOU. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  COMMISSIONER. >> COMMISSIONER:  THANK YOU, JUDGE.  COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, CAN YOU GO THROUGH YOUR NUMBERS 
          AGAIN. >> COMMISSIONER:  THE RATE BY THE IMPACT TO THE GENERAL FUND, THE IMPACT TO FLOOD CONTROL AND IMPACT TO... (SPEAKER AWAY FROM MICROPHONE) 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  I HAD HIM DOUBLE CHECK LAST NIGHT.  LET ME SAY THE COMMISSIONER HAS BEEN HELPFUL WORKING THROUGH THESE NUMBERS.  THE NUMBERS ON THIS WILL BE WITH THE TAX RATE THAT I JUST REFERENCED IN HARRIS COUNTY, THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE OF TAX REVENUES OF $2.6 MILLION.  $2.6 MILLION. 
          FLOOD CONTROL, THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE IN TAX REVENUES OF $7.4 MILLION.  THOSE TWO TOGETHER THAT'S $10 MILLION. 
          AND THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT WOULD BE A REDUCTION REVENUE OF $30 MILLION.  THOSE WOULD BE -- THOSE WOULD BE THE NUMBERS. 
          >>  THANK YOU. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  OKAY.  WE'LL GO AHEAD AND LISTEN TO THE SPEAKERS.  WHO IS CALLING THE 
          SPEAKERS? >>  THIS IS TIFFANY, JUDGE. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  GOT IT. THANK YOU. 
          >>  JUDGE, IF I MAY.  WE LISTED THIS ON THE AGENDA AS THREE SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THREE RATES.  I THINK FOR THE SAKE OF FORMALITY, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO OPEN AND CLOSE THEM WITH RESPECT TO EACH RATE.  AND ASK THAT SPEAKERS PRIMARILY ADDRESS THE RATE THAT THEY'RE LISTED UNDER.  OBVIOUSLY, IF THEY HAVE OTHER THOUGHTS THEY CAN SHARE THEM BUT STAY FOCUSED ON THAT 
          FOR THE SAKE OF GOOD ORDER. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  OKAY.  SO LET 
          ME PULL IT UP HERE. >>  DO YOU WANT ME TO PROPOSAL 
          THE RATE THAT I MADE? >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  SURE. 
          (INAUDIBLE) >> HERE WE GO.  NEVER MIND. 
          SO, JUDGE, WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO -- I GUESS, MR. BARRY, YOU'RE 
          SAYING GO THROUGH THE -- >> I DON'T THINK THAT IS NECESSARY.  FEEL FREE IF YOU WOULD LIKE.  MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA WHICH IS PROPOSAL A FOR THE 2021 HARRIS COUNTY TAX RATE OF 
          0.37693. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  OKAY.  WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO THAT. IF THAT WORKS FOR YOU, 
          COMMISSIONER? >>  YES. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSAL A FOR THE 2021 PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 0.37693 FOR HARRIS COUNTY. 
          THAT IS THE PROPOSAL MADE SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2021.  IT WAS THE PROPOSAL MADE BY OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.  AND I DO WANT TO REMIND FOLKS EARLIER THIS YEAR WE PASSED A BUDGET UNANIMOUSLY, NOT JUST BASIC OPERATIONS, BUT THINGS WE'VE LONG NEEDED TO TACKLE.  WILLFUL UNDERFUNDING ON PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC SAFETY, RESILIENCY, RESILIENCY AGAINST DISASTERS OF ALL KINDS.  AND SO MANY MORE THINGS.  THE PROPOSAL FROM THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AS I'VE SAID BEFORE IS A RESPONSIBLE PATH FORWARD.  THAT IS THIS PROPOSAL WE'RE PUTTING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON.  IT SUPPORTS THE BUDGET.  THE BUDGET ALL OF HERE VOTED ON. 
          ON THE OTHER HAND, THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, THE NEW CLEAR OPTION THAT IN THE PAST SOME ON THIS COURT HAVE IMPOSED BY FAILING TO SHOW UP TO VOTE, WOULD BE DISASTROUS.  IT WOULD CUT PUBLIC SAFETY, PUT OUR BOND RATINGS AT RISK.  IT WOULD TARGET PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS DURING A PANDEMIC SPECIFICALLY, THE 
          [00:10:04]
LEADERS IN OUR PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM. 
          THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, THOUGH IT HAPPENED, IF WE DON'T COME OUT WITH A PROPOSAL TODAY WHERE FOLKS COMMIT TO SHOW UP, WOULD CUT THE FUNDING FOR HOSPITAL DISTRICT BY $36 MILLION.  IT WOULD LEAD TO A BUDGET GAP OF $36 MILLION.  THAT IS FUNDING THAT COULD BE USED TO HIRE OTHER THAN 200 NURSES, 100 DOCTORS. 
          WOULD IMPACT 6,000 PATIENTS. AND THE LONG-TERM IMPACT ON THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT'S FINANCES ON THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT'S FINANCES, THE COUNTY'S FINANCES WOULD BE HUGE BECAUSE OF THE REVENUE CAP THAT THE STATE HAS IMPOSED, WHICH MEANS WE CAN ONLY. (INAUDIBLE) LIFE EXPECTANCY IN THE COUNTY IS 20 YEARS FROM THE HIGHEST LEVEL TO LOWEST LEVEL OF 
          LIFE EXPECTANCY.  -- >> JUDGE, EXCUSE ME.  CAN YOU 
          FIX THE CAMERA ANGLE. >>  IT'S GOOD NOW. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO: (INAUDIBLE) WHICH TELLS US SOMETHING.  TELLS US WE ARE NOT (INAUDIBLE) WE DON'T HAVE HOSPITALS ON THE EAST SIDE.  WE ONLY HAVE THREE -- (INAUDIBLE) ACROSS TOWN.  ALL OF THEM ARE IN THE -- (INAUDIBLE) 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.  BUT WE CAN'T HEAR 
          YOU. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  DO YOU NEED TO TAKE A BREAK?  CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?  WHEN DID YOU STOP 
          HEARING ME, TIFFANY? >>  YOU SOUND VERY FAR AWAY. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO: (INAUDIBLE) 
          >> YOU SOUND GOOD TO ME. >>  IT'S COMING THROUGH ON THE 
          WEBEX VERY MUFFLED, THE SOUND. >> THIS IS LUCINDA ALSO. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO: (INAUDIBLE) 
          >> YOU GUYS ARE VERY MUFFLED, SIR.  JAKE, IS THERE A WAY YOU CAN CHANGE THAT VIEW?  BECAUSE IT'S VERY ORANGE AS WELL. 
          >> IT'S GREEN. >>  WHY DON'T WE TAKE A BREAK, A AND YOU GUYS FIX IT.  TIFFANY, IF YOU DON'T HEAR ME, MENTION IT 
          BEFORE I SPEAK FOR FIVE MINUTES. >>  YES, MA'AM. 
          >>  LET'S TAKE A BREAK UNTIL 1:25.  AND THEY'LL CHECK THE MIC. (RECESS) 
          >> JUDGE, JUDGE -- >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  WE'RE OPENING PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSAL A, 2021 PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 3.7933 FOR HARRIS COUNTY.  THE THAT WAS THE PROPOSAL MADE SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2021.  -- EXCUSE ME.  THAT WAS THE PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES.  IS THAT THE RIGHT AMOUNT?  I'M NOTICING 
          IT ONLY SAYS HARRIS COUNTY. >> JUDGE, THE FIRST HEARING IS 
          [00:15:02]
WITH RESPECT TO THE COUNTY RATE. SO HENCE THE LOWER NUMBER.  THE ALL IN RATE WOULD BE HIGHER BECAUSE IT INCLUDES BOTH FLOOD 
          CONTROL AND HOSPITAL. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  SO THE FIRST HEARING IS -- PERTAINS TO THE INITIAL PROPOSAL MADE BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AT THE LAST MEETING OF COMMISSIONERS COURT. 
          THAT WAS SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2021. >>  JUDGE HIDALGO, I'M SORRY, IT'S JAY.  QUICKLY, I KNOW YOU TECHNICALLY RECESSED THE MEETING UNTIL 1:35.  IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT BACK IN.  OR 1:30. 
          IF YOU WANT TO RECONVENE THE HEARING AT THIS TIME. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU. OKAY.  SO IT IS 1:21 P.M. AND WE'RE RECONVENING THIS PUBLIC HEARING OF COMMISSIONERS COURT. 
          SO THERE ARE VARIOUS PUBLIC HEARINGS TODAY.  WE'RE GOING TO START WITH A INITIAL PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDERED THE 2021 PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR HARRIS COUNTY.  THIS ONE IS THE PROPOSAL MADE BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ON SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2021.  THAT PROPOSAL ENSURES THAT WE'RE VAFUNDING THE BUDGET WE PASSED A BUDGET EARLIER THIS YEAR UNANIMOUSLY AS A BODY.  IT ENSURED PUBLIC OBLIGATIONS AND TACKLE ISSUES IN THE PAST UNDER FUNDED.  THAT IS PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, AS A MATTER OF FACTOR TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.  IN FACT FLOOD CONTROL, BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TO COVER FLOOD CONTROL BECAUSE OF ANALYSES NOT DONE APPROPRIATELY IN THE PAST.  THE PROPOSAL IS PRESENTED IN THIS TAX RATE, IS RESPONSIBLE.  IT MAKES SURE THAT IT SUPPORTS THE BUDGET.  AND IT MAKES SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND HEALTHY AS BEST WE CAN. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE WOULD BE ADOPTED IF TWO MEMBERS OF THE COURT REFUSE TO SHOW UP TO VOTE AS IT HAPPENED IN THE PAST.  IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE THE NUCLEAR OPTION, CUTTING FUNDING, BUDGET GAP OF $36 MILLION IN OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEM.  FUNDING GAP OF LARGE MAGNITUDE FOR OUR FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, INCLUDING NEGATIVELY IMPACTING OUR DEBT OBLIGATIONS, NOT BEING ABLE TO MEET OUR DEBT OBLIGATIONS AND PERHAPS NOT BEING ABLE TO FUND FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS WE'VE PROMISED.  AND CUT BACK ON PROGRAMS WE'VE BUDGETED FOR OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHICH IS WORKING SO HARD TO RESPOND TO THIS PANDEMIC IN WHICH DOES NOT RECEIVE IMPORTANT FUNDS BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE'RE CLASSIFIED WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALREADY. WE HAVE TO LOCALLY MAKE UP THAT GAP. THE $36 MILLION BUDGET GAP CREATED BY THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, TWO MEMBERS OF COURT NOT SHOWING UP FOR THE RATE AT THE NEXT MEETING, REPRESENTS FUNDING USED TO HIRE OVER 200 NURSES, 100 DOCTORS AND IMPACT OVER 6,000 PATIENTS. IT WOULD BE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT'S LONG-TERM FINANCES ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY'S LONG-TERM FINANCES AND THE LONG-TERM FINANCES OF THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE'RE LIMITED IN TERMS OF COLLECTING REVENUE. WE KNOW RIGHT NOW WE LEARNED IN 2019 THAT THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF HARRIS COUNTY VARIES.  WE LOOK AT THE COMMISSIONER PRECINCTS, ZIP CODES IN PARTICULAR, YOUR LIFE EXPECTANCY IS 20 YEARS IN YOU LIVE IN A CERTAIN ZIP CODE, HIGHER.  THAN IF YOU LIVE IN A CERTAIN OTHER ZIP CODE.  WE KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE A HOSPITAL ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN. 
          COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S CONSTITUENTS CAN HARDLY REACH A HOSPITAL PROPERLY AFTER WE WERE FLOODED.  ALL OF US HAVE CONSTITUENTS VERY FAR AWAY FROM THE LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTERS IN TOWN.  THAT TELLS US THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE NEED TO DO AT LEAST MAINTAIN THE THINGS WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR BUT WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE ARE MASSIVE GAPS IN SERVICES, BASIC SERVICES.  THAT IS HEALTHCARE.  THAT WE NEED TO MAKE UP PARTICULARLY DURING A PANDEMIC.  AND SO WE NEED TO BE THERE FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR OUR COMMUNITY DURING A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EPIDEMIC, THAT IS OUR HOSPITAL WORKERS, 
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OUR PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE JUST TO ADD TO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES SAID.  I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE BLOCK OUT FROM TODAY THAT WE WILL NOT BE IN THE SITUATION TO CUT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WOULD HAPPEN IF FOLKS REFUSE TO SHOW UP FOR THE HEARING. AND SO WITH THAT SAID, I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE 2021 PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR HARRIS COUNTY. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? EXCUSE ME? SO ANYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE GENERAL COUNTY FUND CAN GO AHEAD AND SPEAK.  WHO IS CALLING THE SPEAKER?  TIFFANY WILL CALL SPEAKERS. 
          >>  JUDGE, WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR ITEM 2. 
          >>  JUDGE, WOULD YOU MIND IF I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION?  JAY? 
          ARE YOU AVAILABLE? >>  I AM, SIR, YES, SIR. 
          >>  I THINK THAT I UNDERSTOOD YOUR PRIOR COMMENT TO BE THE JUDGE THIS TIME CAN OPEN UP THE DISCUSSION ON ALL OF THE RATES, AND THEN, ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT. 
          AND THEN, WE CAN CONSIDER THEM LATER?  OR ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE HAVE TO DO ONE RATE.  SHUT IT DOWN, AND THEN, OPEN THE NEXT. 
          I THOUGHT SHE COULD OPEN UP ALL OF THE RATES FOR DISCUSSION. 
          AND THEN, CLOSE THEM ALL AT THE END.  DID I MISUNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WERE SAYING PROCEDURALLY SHE COULD DO? 
          >>  TO DAVE'S POINT, I THINK WE WANTED TO CREATE CLEAR DELINEATIONS BETWEEN EACH OF THE DIFFERENT RATES, BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO AVOID ANY CONFUSION THE PUBLIC MAY HAVE BETWEEN DIFFERENT RATES.  IT'S REALLY ONLY RELEVANT WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY -- BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO HARRIS COUNTY RATES.  WHICH MAY NOT BE RELEVANT SINCE THERE SEEMS TO BE GREATER UNANIMITY ON THE HARRIS COUNTY RATE THAN EARLIER, SO WE POSTED TWO.  THE IDEA IS IF THERE'S NO ONE WHO WANTS TO COMMENT ON THE HARRIS COUNTY -- THE FIRST RATE FOR NUMBER A, THEN, WE CAN THEN GO TO I GUESS PROPOSAL B, ITEM 3 THE .37473 NUMBER.  AND DO IT IN ORDER THAT WAY.  IT WAS JUST REALLY DESIGNED TO MAKE SURE 
          THERE'S NO CONFUSION. >> COMMISSIONER:  IF I AM TO REPHRASE, WE'RE TAKING A PROPOSAL A, COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S PROPOSAL NOW.  AND THEN, WE WILL SHUT THAT DOWN. 
          AND THEN, WE WILL TAKE UP PROPOSAL B, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN MY PROPOSAL FROM LAST COMMISSIONERS COURT.  THE AND THEN, SHUT THAT DOWN.  AND THEN, WE'LL TAKE UP PROPOSAL C FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.  AND THEN, TO THE EXTENT THAT IT CAN BE -- IT WAS NOT POSTED TODAY, BUT I THINK IT'S RELEVANT FOR THE 
          DISCUSSION OF THESE OTHER RATES. >>  SURE.  I THINK ACTUALLY MY UNDERSTANDING IS BASED ON THE NUMBERS THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAD LAID OUT, HIS PROPOSAL IS THE SAME AS PROPOSAL A FOR HARRIS COUNTY.  IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO DIVIDE THAT OUT. 
          THE NEW RATE THAT HE HAS LAID OUT IS FOR SPECIFIC TO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT RATE.  THAT'S THE BIG DIFFERENTIAL.  THE COURT 
          CAN TALK ABOUT THAT. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THE POINT HERE IS THAT EVERYBODY WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PROPOSALS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PROPOSALS.  AND WHICHEVER PROPOSAL THEY'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON.  BUT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS ASKING US TO CALL THESE UP IN A CERTAIN WAY.  SO WHAT I RECOMMEND, JAY, IS YOU HAVE THE SPEAKER SIGN-UPS.  NEITHER I NOR TIFFANY HAVE A WAY TO SEE ON HERE WHO IS FOR WHICH PROPOSAL. SO YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO HELP 
          US. >>  SURE.  I CAN GO THROUGH THAT 
          RIGHT NOW. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  YES, 
          COMMISSIONER. >> COMMISSIONER:  I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO LET EVERYBODY SPEAK.  IF IT GETS MUDDLED, 
          [00:25:02]
WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.  BUT I WANT TO ASK RESPECTFULLY TO HAVE MR. BARRY, JUST WALK THROUGH THREE.  BEFORE THEY TESTIFY, BECAUSE I SEE WITH THE NUMBERS, THEY'LL HAVE NO IDEA WHICH ONE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.  IF HE JUST WALKS THROUGH THE THREE, JUDGE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL BEFORE THEY SPEAK SO THEY KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE THREE.  JUST HIGH POINTS, MR. BARRY.  IT'S ALL ABOUT THE NUMBER. 
          >> HAPPY TO DO THAT.  AND THEN, I CAN CLOSE I THINK BY GOING THROUGH EACH OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS IF IT'S HELPFUL AND EXPLAIN HOW THEY RELATE TO THE PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE. 
          SO WE'RE AT A POINT IN THE TAX RATE SETTING PROCESS, WHERE -- OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?  GREAT. 
          SO WHERE WE ARE IN THE TAX RATE SETTING PROCESS, THERE ARE THREE PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE.  ONE PROPOSAL IS THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.  IT WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED BY MY OFFICE. 
          RESULTED IN A SERIES OF RATES THAT WOULD PROVIDE AN OVERALL 2.2% DECREASE FROM THE RATE AND ALSO FULLY FUND ALL OF THE BUDGETS.  AT THAT SAME MEETING, WHICH AT THE LAST MEETING COMMISSIONER CAGLE MADE A PROPOSAL.  WHICH WAS A LOWER COUNTY RATE OF .37473.  THAT'S PROPOSAL B AS OPPOSED TO THE ORIGINAL RATE PROPOSED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA OF 3.7693, PROPOSAL A.  AS WE GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, PROPOSAL A IS MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND RECOMMENDED BY MY OFFICE. 
          PROPOSAL B IS THE LOWER RATE THAT WAS PROPOSED BY COMMISSIONER CAGLE. THAT FIRST RATE WOULD BE -- WOULD FULLY FUND THE BUDGET WITH $2.6 MILLION SURPLUS THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT CAN INVEST IN OTHER PRIORITIES.  THE SECOND PROPOSAL WOULD BE $8 MILLION BELOW BUDGET AND REQUIRE US TO FUND THE BUDGET. SO THOSE ARE THE TWO OPTIONS ON THE TABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE COUNTY RATE.  AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S PROPOSAL ON THE COUNTY RATE IS THE SAME AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S, SO IT APPEARS THAT BETWEEN THOSE TWO COMMISSIONERS, THERE'S AGREEMENT.  AS FOLKS MAKE COMMENTS, THEY CAN WEIGH IN WITH RESPECT TO THOSE TWO DIFFERENT RATES. 
          I'LL MOVE ONTO THE FLOOD CONTROL RATE.  ALL OF THE PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE REFLECT INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TO THE TUNE OF $7.4 MILLION.  THOSE ARE ADDITIONAL FUNDS OVER THE BUDGET THAT COULD BE INVESTED IN FLOOD CONTROL MAINTENANCE.  WHILE THERE'S NOT DISAGREEMENT AROUND THAT RATE, THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH CONSENSUS AROUND THE OTHER RATES TO HAVE A QUORUM TO ACTUALLY VOTE ON THAT RATE. SO THERE IS ONE PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL RATE.  THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING. FINALLY, ON THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, THERE ARE THREE SETS OF RATES ON THE TABLE.  BUT ONLY ONE OF THEM IS THE SUBJECT OF A PUBLIC HEARING.  THAT'S BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING IF THE RATE IS OVER THE NOTED REVENUE RATE.  AND SO I'LL WALK THROUGH THAT REAL QUICKLY. 
          COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S PROPOSAL WHICH IS THE ONE NOTICED AND THE SUBJECT OF A PUBLIC HEARING, WOULD FULLY FUND THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND ALSO GENERATE $4.6 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT COULD BE INVESTED. COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S PROPOSAL WAS THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT.  WHICH WOULD BE A $37 MILLION SHORTFALL RELATIVE TO BUDGET.  THAT WAS NOT NOTICED FOR A HEARING BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO NOTICE SOMETHING FORMALLY IF IT'S THE NO NEW REVENUE.  NONETHELESS, I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IF SPEAKERS WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THOSE TWO OPTIONS, THEY CAN FEEL FREE TO DISCUSS THEM. 
          COMMISSION RAMSEY'S PROPOSAL FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT RATE IS IN BETWEEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S PROPOSAL AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S PROPOSAL.  IT WOULD RESULT IN $30 MILLION GAP RELATIVE TO THE BUDGETED TAXES FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT.  IT IS NOT FORMALLY NOTICE BECAUSE THE PROPOSAL JUST CAME TODAY. 
          NEVERTHELESS, IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR SPEAKERS IN THAT PART OF THE HEARING TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINION WHERE THAT RATE SHOULD BE. SO I HOPE THAT HELPS SET THE STAGE HERE.  AND WE DO WANT THIS TO BE SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR LEGAL PURPOSES BECAUSE EACH ENTITY HAS ITS OWN TAX RATE SETTING PROCESS.  BUT SO WE'D ASK SPEAKERS TO TRY TO FOCUS 
          [00:30:02]
REMARKS ON ONE OF THE RATES.  IF THEY HAVE OTHER THOUGHTS, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS GOING TO CUT THEM OFF IF THEY WANT TO 
          SHARE OPINIONS. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT IS, IS WE'RE HERE TO LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC.  AND THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP FOR -- SOME SIGNED UP FOR TWO.  THE SOME SIGNED UP FOR THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE.  A LOT OF SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 1, WHICH IS NOT ANY OF THE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. WHAT I'M ASKING IS FOR JAY TO TELL TIFFANY WHO IT IS WE NEED TO CALL UP FOR WHICH OF THESE HEARINGS WITH THE INTENT EVERYBODY WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK WILL SPEAK.  SO CAN YOU TAKE 
          CARE OF THAT, JAY? >>  YES, I CAN GO AHEAD AND DO 
          THAT. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  LET'S GET STARTED.  DO YOU NEED ME TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AGAIN? 
          >>  NO.  THE I I BELIEVE THE HE IS OPEN FOR 1.  WILL 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  ITEM 2, PROPOSAL A, WHICH IS ITEM 2 
          UNDER PUBLIC HEARING. >>  CORRECT, JUDGE.  CHRISTINA LINDSEY WAS THE -- WANT TODAY SPEAK ABOUT THE TAX RATES 
          GENERALLY. >>  SO JAY, WE SHOULD GO WITH HER FIRST, BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE SPEAKERS BEFORE HER, WHO SIGNED 
          UP FOR -- >> THEY I THINK -- THOSE SPEAKERS WANTED TO SPEAK -- WELL, OKAY.  WE CAN DO IT THAT WAY, TOO.  THEY HAD SPECIFICALLY TALKED ABOUT THE HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT TAX RATE. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.  THE 
          FIRST -- >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  TIFFANY, DO YOU HAVE MISS LINDSEY ON THE LINE? 
          >>  NO.  WE HAVE DR. PORSO. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  DO YOU NEED A 
          MINUTE TO WORK THIS OUT? >>  TIFFANY, IF YOU COULD CALL CHRISTINA LINDSEY AND FOLLOWED BY SOPHIA.  SO FIVE AND SIX.  IF 
          YOU CAN GET THEM ON THE PHONE. >>  GIVE US A FEW MINUTES AND WE'LL GET THEM ON. OKAY.  I THINK WE RECEIVED GUIDANCE FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY THAT WE NEEDED TO POST MULTIPLE HEARINGS, WHICH WE'VE NOT DONE BEFORE.  SO HENCE THE CONFUSION.  I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE THESE GUYS A MOMENT ON GETTING A SYSTEM CALLING UP THE SPEAKERS SO WE DON'T HAVE SPEAKERS WAITING UNNECESSARILY. EVERYBODY WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, WILL BE HEARD TODAY.  WHY DON'T WE TAKE A BREAK UNTIL 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  OKAY.  IT'S 2:16 P.M. COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.  WE'RE ALL CLEAR AS TO THE WAY TO CALL THE SPEAKERS, EVERY SPEAKER I'M TOLD BY JAY AND TIFFANY HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE SPECIFIC PART OF THE AGENDA THEY SIGNED UP FOR. 
          WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSAL A ON THE HARRIS COUNTY RUSHLIGHT WE'LL HEAR THE SPEAKERS FOR THAT AND CLOSE OUT PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSAL B OR THE HARRIS COUNTY PROPOSED RATE.  WE'LL HEAR SPEAKERS FROM THAT AND CLOSE THAT HEARING. AND HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT PROPOSED RATE AND THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT PROPOSED RATE.  THERE'S ONE WRINKLE IN ALL OF THIS WHICH IS OUR DISTRICT CLERK, OUR CLERK IS HAVING AN IMPORTANT EVENT AT 3:00.  AND I KNOW ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF COURT WILL HOPING TO ATTEND.  THAT SAID, SPEAKERS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR AWHILE. WHAT I PROPOSAL IS THAT TWO MEMBERS DEPART AT, SAY, 2:50 AND MAKE REMARKS AND COME BACK.  AND TWO OTHERS OF US WILL GO AND JOIN THE CLERK WHILE THE EVENT IS GOING ON SO THERE'S NO INTERRUPTION TO THEIR PUBLIC HEARING. LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSAL A FOR THE 2021 HARRIS COUNTY PROPOSED TAX 
          [Appearances before court (Part 1 of 2)]
RATE .37693 DISCUSSED ON SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2021. 
          >>  THE FIRST SPEAKER IS NUMBER FIVE, CHRISTINA LINDSEY OF HOUSTON STRONGER. .  GO AHEAD, PLEASE. 
          >>  GOOD AFTERNOON.  I'LL TAKE MY SHOT IF IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH YOU ALL.  I WAS REALLY SPEAKING TO BOTH THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT RATE AND THE OVERALL RATE.  SO I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE, IF I MAY, AND JUST SAY GOOD AFTERNOON TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.  MY NAME IS CHRISTINA LINDSEY.  I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON STRONGER, NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FORMED AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY TO ADVOCATE FOR FLOOD SOLUTIONS IN THE HOUSTON AREA.  HOUSTON STRONGER IS 35 
          [00:35:06]
CIVIC GROUPS, BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP MITIGATE FLOODING IN OUR AREA. WE ARE STRONG ADVOCATES FOR THE 2018 HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD BOND REFERENDUM AND SUPPORTED OTHER MEASURES TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR FLOOD PROJECTS.  WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF ALL INVOLVED TO SET OUR PROPERTY TAX RATES THAT PROVIDES SUFFICIENT FUNDS FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.  AND OTHER IMPORTANT DEPARTMENTS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.  IN FACT, EACH OF THE P PROPOSALS YOU'RE DISCUSSING TODAY REDUCE THE OVERALL TAX RATE FOR PROPERTY OWNERS. THE -- MY ORIGINALLY PREPARED COMMENTS FOR TODAY WERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO TRY AND REACH A COMPROMISE.  I BELIEVE THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS DONE THAT BY PROVIDING NOW A THIRD PROPOSAL.  IT MAY NOT STILL BE THE EXACTLY WHAT EVERYONE COULD MAYBE AGREE UPON. 
          BUT SINCE YOUR DEADLINE FOR ACTUALLY SETTING A RATE IS NOT UNTIL OCTOBER 15TH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU, IF YOU CAN, TO PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR DISCUSSIONS TO SEE IF YOU CAN GET TO THAT POINT, WHERE YOU CAN HAVE AT LEAST FOUR, IF NOT A FIVE VOTE IN FAVOR OF YOUR NEWS TAX RATE. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE WANT TO GO TO THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE THAT COULD BE IMPOSED IF THERE IS NOT THE PRESCRIBED QUORUM NEEDED FOR A VOTE.  SO WE ASK THAT YOU RECONSIDER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND SEE IF YOU CAN CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD A COMPROMISE THAT COULD GET A LARGER VOTE OF APPROVAL.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          >>  CHRISTINA, THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN AND SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS.  AND I APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENT OF URGING THE COMPROMISE.  AND I WOULD JUST SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR THAT THIS COURT HAS PROPOSED A TAX RATE CUT IN CONTRAST TO WHAT HAS BEEN DONE FOR DECADES.  I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY REGULAR TAX RATE CUT THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY.  AND OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A TOUGH CIRCUMSTANCE THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE IN.  BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE JUDGE HAS MADE THE POINT CLEARLY THAT THIS IS A TIME WHEN PEOPLE NEED -- THE MOST.  AND BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE ALL FORMS OF SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY, OF WHICH WE'VE INVESTED $103 MILLION IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.  WHETHER IT IS INFRASTRUCTURE.  WHETHER IT IS FLOOD CONTROL, YOU KNOW, OF WHICH I HELPED CRAFT $545 MILLION MOTION TO ENSURE OUR FLOOD BOND PROJECTS STAYED ON TRACK.  AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAVE DONE OUR FAIR SHARE TO WORK TOWARDS THE MIDDLE.  BUT OBVIOUSLY, I THINK ALAN BLACK HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR, A RATE CUT TO HIS OPERATIONS WOULD SLOW PROJECTS DOWN, IF NOT CANCEL THEM.  AND PEOPLE ARE STILL BEING AFFECTED AND DYING FROM COVID.  SO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT IS STILL TAKING CARE OF MANY INDIVIDUALS WHOSE ONLY SYSTEM OF SUPPORT MEDICALLY IS THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM. AND, YOU KNOW, OUR CONSTITUENTS DON'T WANT POTHOLES.  THEY DON'T WANT THEIR HOMES FLOODED.  THEY WANT TO SEE THEIR DITCHES DONE. THEY WANT THE ROADS AND PARKS MAINTAINED.  THEY WANT MORE HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS.  PEOPLE ARE APPRECIATING THE OUTDOORS MORE SO THAN THEY'VE EVER BEFORE BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, US HAVING TO STAY QUARANTINED AND ISOLATED FOR SO LONG.  SO I AM ASSUMING THAT YOUR COMPROMISE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN ENGINEERING PROJECTS ON TRACK, FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS ON TRACK. AND WITH THE CRIME RATE THAT 
          [00:40:04]
WE'RE ALL EXPERIENCING, WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANOTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER LOSE THEIR LIFE.  SO WE HAVE TO KEEP AN INVESTMENT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY.  OR THOSE THINGS THAT YOU AGREE SHOULD BE BINDING PRINCIPLES AS WE WORK 
          THROUGH ALL THIS. >>  YES, YES, PUBLIC SAFETY IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE INFRASTRUCTURE COMPONENTS, YES, 
          THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER:  THANK YOU, CHRISTINA.  APPRECIATE YOU CALLING IN.  AND GOOD TO SEE YOU 
          AT OUR FAVORITE PLACE. >>  JUDGE, MISS LINDSEY MADE A COMMENT THAT SHE WISHES HER COMMENTS ARE INCLUDED.  I MAKE A MOTION ALL COMMENTS MADE TODAY WOULD BE FOR THE RECORD ADDED TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTIONS OF ANY OTHER SECTION THAT MIGHT BE 
          PERTINENT. >>  SECOND. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  IS THAT APPROPRIATE, JAY?  DID YOU -- 
          (INAUDIBLE) >> I MAKE THE MOTION ANY PUBLIC COMMENT THAT IS MADE BY ANY OF OUR SPEAKERS TODAY THAT APPLY TO ANOTHER SECTION, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FLOOD CONTROL SECTION, THAT THEY BE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THAT APPROPRIATE 
          SECTION. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THERE'S A MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR? 
          (A CHORUS OF AYES) >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, MISS LINDSEY.  GO 
          AHEAD, TIFFANY. >>  NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER NINE 
          DAVID HAGGIE.  GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >>  JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE EMPLOYEES FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO.  I'M REPRESENTING THE 235 MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL COMPANY OF HOUSTON.  WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR A TAX BREAK THAT FULLY FLOODS THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND CONSIDERS THE FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER NEEDS OF A GROWING COUNTY. THANKFULLY, BECAUSE OF THE RISE IN CURRENTLY TAXABLE VALUES, THE COURT SHOULD BE ABLE TO FUND DEMANDS ON THE BUDGET.  WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF REVERTING TO NO NEW REVENUE. WHICH WOULD SUBSTANTIALLY DECREASE REVENUE TO THE COUNTY. ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION RELEASED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT BUDGET, THE FLOOD CONTROL NO NEW REVENUE RATE MAY NOT COVER THE COST OF THE DEBT SERVICE ON THE 2018 VOTER APPROVED FLOOD CONTROL BOND PROJECT.  THE SAME RATE COULD HURT FLOOD CONTROL ACCESS TO CAPITAL, RESULT IN REDUCTIONS TO MAINTENANCE AND STAFF AUGMENTATION AND DELAY FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS.  WE KNOW THE $2.5 BILLION BOND ISSUE IS A SMALL DOWN PAYMENT ON THE MULTIPLE BILLION DOLLAR FLOOD CONTROL.  WE SHOULD NOT SET A RATE TO JEOPARDIZE THE SPENDING AND OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE FLOODING INCLUDING WITH FUTURE BOND ISSUES.  WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO PLAN FOR THE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS THAT'S GOING TO BE NEEDED TO ENSURE THE COUNTY CONTINUES GROWTH AND FINANCIAL HEALTH.  THANK YOU. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          >>  DAVID, THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN.  AND CAN YOU TELL ME IF THERE'S ONE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT THAT IS LESS IMPORTANT THAN ANOTHER?  I MEAN, IS A ROAD PROJECT LESS AVAILABLE THAN A FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT?  OR VICE VERSA. 
          >>  NO.  I MEAN OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE PART OF AN ALL OVER LARGER PLAN.  WHICH ONE OF THOSE GETS FUNDED FIRST OR SECOND, THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT.  WE FOCUSED ON FLOOD CONTROL BECAUSE THAT'S OBVIOUSLY THE RATE BEING DISCUSSED TODAY.  AND CERTAINLY, WE ALL KNOW AGAIN THAT THE $2.5 BILLION THAT WE APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IS AGAIN A SMALL DOWN PAYMENT AND WE'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THAT. THAT'S WHY WE ARE FOCUSED ON 
          THAT PORTION TODAY. >> COMMISSIONER:  YOU ALLUDED TO IF WE END UP WITH A NO NEW REVENUE RATE, WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT WILL DO TO OUR ABILITY TO GET A NEW BOND TO CONTINUE THE FLOOD BOND WORK THAT WE HAVE STARTED UNDER THE LAST BOND 
          ELECTION? >>  WELL, ACCORDING TO THE DOCUMENTS THAT WERE RELEASED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT BUDGET, NO NEW REVENUE RATE MAY NOT COVER THE COST OF PAYING DEBT SERVICE ON THE CURRENT VOTER APPROVED BOND.  SO OBVIOUSLY, IT COULD COSTLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON FUTURE BOND ISSUES.  AND AGAIN, KNOWING OUR NEEDS IN THE COUNTY AND THE PLANNING THAT'S BEEN DONE, IT'S VERY CLEAR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PLAN FOR MORE BOND ISSUES IN THE FUTURE. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. 
          >>  THANK YOU. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU. 
          >>  NEXT, SPEAKER NUMBER 12, MARY ANN OF KAY DE COUNTY 
          [00:45:08]
          CONSERVANCY. >>  GOOD AFTERNOON.  I'M PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. OF THE KADY COUNTY CONSERVANCY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS.  THE NEARLY 24,000 ACRES THAT IS PROTECTED, 18,000 ACRES ON THE PRAIRIE IN EASTERN WALLER COUNTY.  I LIVE IN DISTRICT 1, THE CONSERVANCY LANDS ARE PRIMARILY DISTRICT 3.  I RECOMMEND KCC TODAY FOCUSING ON ENSURING THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT IS NOT IN DANGER OF LOSING FUNDS.  FLOOD CONTROL IS AN ISSUE THAT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR REGION.  WE PRIDE OURSELVES IMPLEMENTING NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTION TO SAY REDUCE FLOOD RISKS. PROJECTS WOULD INCLUDE THE CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION OF WETLANDS.  OUR COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS IN NATURAL FLOOD RISK SOLUTIONS ARE COST EFFECTIVE AND PROVIDE NUMEROUS CO-BENEFITS TO HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS, IMPROVED AIR AND WATER QUALITY, RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, NATURE TOURISM, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 
          COUNTY LEADERS HAVE DONE AN ABNORMAL JOB TO FLOOD CONTROL FUNDS TO NOT ONLY REPAIR DAMAGES FROM FLOOD EVENTS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, UNDERTAKE PROJECTS THAT PREVENT FLOODS IN THE FUTURE CREATING A MORE RESILIENT AREA FOR THE MILLIONS WHO CALL HARRIS COUNTY HOME.  I URGE ALL OF YOU TO TAKE PART IN THE SEPTEMBER 28TH COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING TO APPROVE A COUNTY TAX RATE.  AS YOU KNOW, IF WE VOTE TO A NO NEW REVENUE, WE WILL -- THE RESULT WILL BE A $10 MILLION SHORTFALL IN HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT'S BUDGET, IN EFFECT 9% CUT.  SUCH CUTS MAKE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT DISTRICT SLOW DOWN OR CANCEL PLANNED FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS.  PROJECTS MANY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE COUNTING ON.  NO ONE WANTS THE STATE DICTATING WHAT THE COUNTY CAN AND NOT DO.  THEY DO ENOUGH OF THAT.  I HOPE ALL OF YOU WORK TOGETHER TO AGREE ON A COMPROMISE AND APPROVE A TAX RATE THAT CAN BE APPROVED ARE AT THE COURT'S SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2021 MEETING AND MEET ALL THE NEEDS OF A GROWING COUNTY.  WE WANT TO STAY VIBRANT, STAY STRONG AND STAY RESILIENT.  THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  THANK YOU. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  COMMISSIONER 
          ELLIS. >> COMMISSIONER:  MARYANNE, THIS IS RODNEY.  I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND BECAUSE OF THE LAW THAT PASSED, ONLY THREE OF US HAVE TO VOTE TO ENACT A RATE OTHER THAN TO CALL IT THE NUCLEAR OPTION.  BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE FOUR TO SHOW UP.  AND THEN, THE ISSUE IS WHAT THE BILL DOES IN TERMS OF HOW IT SETS THE STAGE FOR WHAT WE DO DOWN THE ROAD.  I WANT TO ASK MR. BARRY TO WALK THROUGH THE RATE SO WE UNDERSTAND AND MARYANNE PICENTE. DID I GET IT RIGHT AFTER ALL 
          THESE YEARS? >>  NO.  THAT'S OKAY. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  PIACITINI.  IF YOU TAKE ME TO ITALY, I CAN UNDERSTAND IT BETTER. (LAUGHTER) 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  MR. BARRY. WALK US THROUGH WHAT SETS US DOWN THE ROAD, WHAT IT DOES IN TERMS OF -- SHOULD I CALL IT -- 
          AS WE RACE TO THE BOTTOM. >>  COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTIONS, WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S NO QUORUM TO VOTE ON TAX RATES AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT FUTURE YEARS? 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  YES. >>  AS WE'VE ADDRESSED, IT CREATES BUDGET SHORTFALLS IN THE CURRENT YEAR TO THE TUNE OF $20 MILLION FOR THE COUNTY AND $10 MILLION FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND $37 MILLION FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT.  IT SETS THE BASELINE FOR FUTURE YEARS.  SO DUE TO THE WAY THE LEGISLATION WORKS, THERE ARE LIMITS ON HOW MUCH THE RATE CAN BE RAISED EACH YEAR.  THERE'S ALSO THE FACT THAT THE NO NEW REVENUE ITSELF, THE RATE IS A FUNCTION OF LAST YEAR'S RATE. 
          WE'RE CREATING A PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR WITH THE RATES AND FUTURE YEARS.  DUE TO THIS NEW LEGISLATION. 
          >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IF I MAY ADD AS A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 1, I BELIEVE THAT IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE A GROWING AND VIBRANT HARRIS COUNTY, WE REALLY DO NEED TO FUND ALL THE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY.  BUT FOR KPC, I'M REALLY ADDRESSING THE FLOOD 
          CONTROL ISSUE.  THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER:  THANK YOU, 
          [00:50:06]
          MARYANNE. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU SO 
          MUCH. >> NEXT, SPEAKER NUMBER 15, ANDREA KARACOSTIS OF HOPE CLINIC.  GO AHEAD, PLEASE. 
          >>  GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.  THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE HIDALGO FOR TAKING MY CALL.  I'M CALLING AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN OF PRECINCT 3 AND ALSO AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HOPE CLINIC. THE HOPE CLINIC EVERYBODY ISES 23,000 PEOPLE THROUGH 150,000 PATIENT VISITS EVERY YEAR.  WE RELY HEAVY ON HARRIS HEALTH'S SUPPORT FOR UNDER SERVED AND UNDERINSURED, THE PATIENTS THAT NEED SPECIALTY CARE OR ANY TYPE OF SURGICAL INTERVENTION AT THE HOSPITAL.  I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THAT TAX CUT WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT HARRIS HEALTH. 
          I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE TWO YEARS FOR HEALTHCARE IN GENERAL.  AND IT HAS REALLY POINTED OUT THE UNDER HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE.  WE REALLY HAVE NOT INVESTED IN HEALTHCARE AND REALLY IN MY OPINION, THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO CUT HEALTHCARE REVENUE IN ANYWAY, SHAPE OR FORM.  I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE PATIENTS THAT WE HAVE.  AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT MY OWN COMMUNITY.  THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU. >>  THE NEXT SPEAKER IS NUMBER 20, MARISSA HANSON.  SHE'S IN-PERSON.  MARISSA, CAN YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM, PLEASE. TURN THE MICROPHONE ON, PLEASE. 
          >> CAN YOU RESTART MY TIME. THANK YOU.  IT DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE TO ME, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WHY YOU WOULD WANT TO 
          RAISE TAXES -- >> I'M SORRY, JUDGE.  THIS SPEAKER IS SPEAKING ON THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING ITEM.  I'M SORRY. 
          ITEM 2. >>  2-A, CORRECT? 
          >>  UH-HUH. >>  YES.  SO IT DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE TO ME WHY YOU WANT TO RAISE YOUR TAXES WHEN WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF INFLATION.  WE'RE ABOUT TO HIT STAGFLTION.  I KNOW OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS PAYING HOSPITALS $38,000 PER COVID PATIENT.  COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WHERE ARE YOU GETTING THE NUMBERS THAT THESE HOSPITALS NEED HELP WHEN THEY'RE FIRING THEIR OWN NURSES AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO TAKE THE VACCINE?  AND THEN, THEY'RE CREATING CRISES. 
          CAN YOU PLEASE GET OFF YOUR PHONE?  I'M TRYING TO SPEAK WITH 
          YOU.  IT'S VERY INAPPROPRIATE. >> COMMISSIONER:  I'M LISTENING 
          TO YOU. >>  YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO ME. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  I'M LISTENING TO YOU. 
          >>  IT'S INAPPROPRIATE. >> COMMISSIONER:  FINISH YOUR 
          COMMENTS. >>  THERE'S $3,000 THAT GOES TO EACH HOSPITAL PER COVID PATIENT. RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A CRISIS BEING CREATED BY PEOPLE BEING FIRED FOR NOT TAKING VACCINES IN HOSPITALS.  YOU GUYS PASSED A BILL FOR $30 MILLION TO BRING IN COVID -- OR BRING IN CONTRACT NURSES.  THE HOSPITALS DON'T HAVE TO -- THEY HAVE NO OVERHEAD WITH CONTRACTED NURSES.  SO THEY ACTUALLY MAKE MORE MONEY WITH CONTRACT NURSES THAN THEIR OWN NURSES THAT THEY'RE FIRING, BECAUSE THEY WANT FREE WILL OVER VACCINES.  PLEASE TELL ME WHERE YOU GET THE RIGHT OR THINK THAT IT'S OKAY TO TAX OUR CONSTITUENTS WHEN WE ARE IN 6% INFLATION?  YOU KNOW THAT.  THE YOU ARE GETTING FEDERAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT THESE HOSPITALS.  SO RAISING TAXES IN THE MIDDLE OF INFLATION, DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE TO ME AT ALL.  ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU'RE CREATING -- THE HOSPITALS ARE CREATING CRISES OF SHORTAGES OF NURSES.  WOULD YOU LIKE TO ANSWER? 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  NO, MA'AM. PLEASE FINISH. 
          >>  THE $60 MILLION THAT YOU PUT UP FOR A TENT, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT MONEY. BECAUSE THAT MONEY COULD HAVE 
          [00:55:02]
GONE TO THE HOSPITALS.  THERE'S TONS OF MONEY -- OVER $110 MILLION THAT I CAN'T FIND OR ACCOUNT FOR.  AND NOW YOU GUYS WANT TO RAISE TAXES ON US IN THE MIDDLE OF INFLATION?  I MEAN, WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING? REALLY, WHERE IS THE MONEY 
          GOING? >>  YOUR TIME IS UP, MA'AM. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  THANK YOU. >>  JUDGE, SHE SPOKE ON ITEMS 2 AND 3.  THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SPEAKING ON ITEMS 1 AND 4. 
          AND SHE'S IN-PERSON.  DEBBIE MANDEL SOFKA. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  WE'RE IN A PARTICULAR PUBLIC HEARING RIGHT NOW.  THAT IS PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 2, THE HEARING FOR PROPOSAL A ON HARRIS COUNTY TAX RATE. TIFFANY NEEDS TO CALL SPEAKERS ON THAT.  WHAT IS THE CONFUSION, JAY? 
          >>  THERE'S NO MORE SPEAKERS FOR ITEM 2, JUDGE. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  I NEED TO CLOSE THAT HEARING.  IS THERE ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST PROPOSAL A FOR THE 2021 HARRIS COUNTY PROPOSED TAX RATE? AND THE ANSWER IS NO, TIFFANY? 
          HAD >> YES, MA'AM. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  OKAY.  I CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.  I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE 2021 PROPOSAL B FOR THE 2021 HARRIS COUNTY PROPOSED TAX RATE.  .37473 DISCUSSED ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2021.  IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK 
          FOR OR AGAINST THAT ITEM? >>  WE DON'T HAVE SPEAKERS FOR 
          THAT ITEM, JUDGE. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  I CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.  I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE 2021 PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, .03349.  IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK 
          FOR OR AGAINST THAT ITEM? >>  THE FIRST SPEAKER IS DEBBIE 
          SOPKA. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  IS THAT YOU, 
          MA'AM? >>  YES. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  I WAS HERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ON FLOOD CONTROL.  MY CONCERN -- THEN, YOU HAD ME MEET WITH ENGINEERS. 
          THEY STILL DIDN'T -- SORRY, DEBRA MANDEL SOPKA.  I SPOKE AND GOT TO MEET WITH ENGINEERS.  AND THEN, I MET WITH ONE OF THEM AND SHOWED THEM AROUND AND PROVED MY POINT THAT I WAS RIGHT.  AND IT WAS MAINLY ABOUT A NEIGHBORHOOD A FOOT ACROSS FROM -- NOW, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S PARK.  BUT THAT DEVELOPMENT MADE A NEW DEVELOPMENT SINCE TWO YEARS AGO. AND IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE CREEK, HIGHWAY 6.  AND THAT WATER IS RAISED UP, GOES STRAIGHT TO THE CREEK.  WHAT DOES THAT DO?  FLOODS THE PARK. 
          FLOODS BEAR CREEK.  FLOODS NEIGHBORHOODS.  BUT Y'ALL LET IT HAPPEN.  I KNOW FLOOD CONTROL NEEDS MONEY.  BUT THE BIG THING IS AFTER YOU DO THE TAXES THIS YEAR, MY HOUSE ASSESSMENT WENT UP 7%.  HOW MANY OF Y'ALL HAVE HOMES IN HARRIS COUNTY?  RAISE YOUR HAND.  HOW MANY OF THEM WENT UP IN ASSESSMENT?  THAT GIVES MONEY TO YOUR BUDGET. HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE MONEY FROM THE NEW ASSESSMENT?  HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THAT?  DO YOU HAVE A FIGURE FOR THAT?  I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THAT.  HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT NEEDS THE MONEY.  AND WE NEED TO WORK AS A GROUP TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WATER GOES WHEN YOU POUR IT ON TOP OF A TABLE.  BECAUSE THE ENGINEERS WHEN I FIRST MET WITH THEM, THEY HAD NO IDEA IT WAS GOING ON THE FLOOR.  SO I HAD TO SHOW THEM.  AND AT THE END OF OUR TOUR, THE ENGINEER GOT OUT AND SAID, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO SELL THESE HOMES DOWN HERE?  I SAID THEY'RE LESS THAN TWO YEARS OLD.  YOU DID THIS. 
          BECAUSE IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT, Y'ALL LET IT REDEVELOP TEN MORE FEET.  HE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. I TOOK HIM TO THE ORIGINAL SECTION.  BUT THE THING IS, Y'ALL KEEP MAKING MISTAKES BECAUSE YOU DON'T WORK TOGETHER. OKAY.  WE ALREADY HAVE MONEY.  I APPRECIATE THAT Y'ALL ARE GOING TO ADD A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOU DIDN'T LOSE MONEY.  SO KEEP THE RATE THE SAME.  GIVE IT TO FLOOD CONTROL.  WE HAVE TO WORK ON WHAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM.  LIKE FROM THE '90S, WHEN, SIR, YOU'RE GOING TO DEVELOP THIS PROPERTY, $5,000 OR PUT RETENTION IN.  THE I HAVE A RETENTION AND A COW FIELD ACROSS FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT FLOOD CONTROL IS CLEANING OUT YESTERDAY BEFORE THE STORM DIDN'T COME IN. 
          TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE PUMPS DIDN'T WORK.  THERE'S A PUMP STATION AT THIS FLOOD CONTROL THING THAT WAS PUT IN BY HARRIS COUNTY BECAUSE THEY PUT 5/10 OF A MILE OF ROAD IN.  THE BUT THEY PIPED IT UNDERNEATH TO GO THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD. 
          THAT'S A COW FIELD.  IT'S A COW FIELD.  SO WHAT YOU'RE DOING 
          [01:00:04]
WITH WATER MAKES NO SENSE.  NOW, I'M GOING TO VOLUNTEER MY SERVICES.  I'VE TAKEN ENGINEERS OUT.  I'LL TAKE ANY ONE OF YOU OUT TO ANY PART OF THIS COUNTY AND I'LL SOMEHOW YOU WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.  OUR ENGINEERS DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHERE WATER GOES. 
          THANKS. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU. 
          >>  THE NEXT SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM IS NUMBER 13, MICHAEL 
          HOOKMASTER.  GO AHEAD. >>  THANK YOU.  JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONERS ELLIS, GARCIA, RAMSEY AND CAGLE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.  APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO HARRIS COUNTY.  AS A MEMBER OF KADY PRAIRIE CONSERVANCY AND CHAIR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, I'D LIKE TO BRING MY CONCERNS TO YOU WITH RESPECT TO FUNDING FOR HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. 
          THE CONSERVANCY WORKS HARD TO PROVIDE LANDS AND NATURAL SOLUTIONS THAT BENEFIT OUR REGION WITH NOT ONLY RECREATION BUT ALSO STORAGE OF RAINWATER AND FLOOD MITIGATION.  WE'VE WORKED WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH ADDS THE WEST HOUSTON ASSOCIATION AND HOUSTON STRONGER TO DEVELOP FLOOD CONTROL.  THESE BRING FORWARD THE POINT THAT HARRIS FLOOD BOND IS A GREAT START.  IT'S A DOWN PAYMENT OF ABOUT 10% OF WHAT WE NEED TO BE PUTTING FORWARD IN THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT REGION.  AND THE HARRIS COUNTY FOR RESPONSIBLE ACTION TO REDUCE FLOODING.  AND THIS MEANS WE NEED TO BE ADDRESSING ONGOING FUNDING OF HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.  SO I STRONGLY AM SUPPORTING THE $7.4 MILLION PROPOSAL FOR BUDGET INCREASE TO HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.  AND WANT TO STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THAT WE DO NOT WIND UP WITH A DEFERMENT TO DEFAULT ACTION THAT WOULD RESULT IN $20 MILLION CUT TO HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT FUNDING. 
          PERSONALLY, I LIVE NEAR BUFFALO BAYOU WAS AFFECTED BY HARVEY ON THE TAX DAY AND MEMORIAL DAY FLOODS.  THOUGH THERE'S NOT MUCH DIRECT BENEFIT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY'RE TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO HARRIS COUNTY.  WE NEED TO WORK TO ACHIEVE THOSE BENEFITS WITH EQUITY FOR ALL THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND RESILIENCY.  THANK YOU.  I APPRECIATE YOU WORKING DILIGENTLY AND COME WITH A SOLUTION THAT CONTINUES AND INCREASES FUNDING FOR HARRIS 
          COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. >>  THANK YOU. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU. >>  JUDGE, THOSE ARE ALL THE 
          SPEAKERS FOR THAT ITEM. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  OKAY.  THANK YOU.  ANY OTHER SPEAKERS FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT PROPOSED TAX RATE?  I NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING. 
          [Departments (Part 2 of 3)]
I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE 2021 PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT .16671 DISCUSSED BY THE COURT ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2021.  IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? 
          >>  JUDGE, WE HAVE FIRST DR. POIRSA WITH HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM AND MICHAEL NORBY, JOINED IN ON THE WEBEX.  THEY WILL 
          ADDRESS YOU ON THAT. >>  DOCTOR. 
          >>  YES.  GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.  MY NAME IS DR. ARTHUR POIRSA.  I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE VISION OF THE HEALTH BOARD OF TRUSTEES AS YOU CONSIDER SETTING THE 2021 TAX RATE, WHICH IS OUR MOST IMPORTANT MECHANISM OF FUNDING.  AS YOU KNOW, THE BOARD DEVELOPED A STRATEGIC PLAN IN MARCH OF 2021 THAT ADDRESSES THE NEEDS AND ENHANCES INFRASTRUCTURE SO WE CAN BETTER ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE WE PROVIDE.  WE MUST BUILD A LARGER INFRASTRUCTURE TO INCREASE OUR BED CAPACITY TO APPROXIMATELY 1,000 BEDS.  THIS WILL REDUCE THE NEED TO REFER CASES AWAY FROM OUR FACILITIES. 
          THUS, IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF CARE. 
          THIS WILL UNLOAD BACKLOGS FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCED IN OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS.  AND ALLOW OUR NATIONAL NATION LEADING LEVEL 1 TRAUMA SERVICES TO ALWAYS BE AT THE READY TO 
          [01:05:04]
PROVIDE LIFESAVING SERVICE TO ANY RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY WHO MAY BY ACCIDENTAL CIRCUMSTANCE FIND THEMSELVES IN NEED OF CARE FOR LIFE THREATENING INJURIES.  UNKNOWN TO MANY, OUR OTHER IMPRESSIVE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE SUCH AS OUR NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED HEART ATTACK, HEART FAILURE, AND STROKE PROGRAMS.  THE DOCTOR WILL SHARE MORE DATA WITH YOU TO LET YOU KNOW THAT AN UNCHANGED TAX RATE IN THE LONG-TERM IS NOT A SUSTAINABLE FUNDING RATE FOR HARRIS HEALTH TO ACHIEVE ITS VISION OF PROVIDING MORE EQUITABLE CARE TO HARRIS COUNTY CONSTITUENTS AT RISK FOR BEING MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED.  WHILE THE PROPOSAL FOR MAINTAINING A FLAT TAX RATE WILL HELP, WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION SETTING THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE RATE TO ALLOW US TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF HEALTH FOR HARRIS COUNTY.  THE ONGOING PANDEMIC HAS DRAWN AN UNDENIABLE FOCUS ON THE VITAL ROLE HARRIS HEALTH PLAYS IN THE HEALTHCARE DELIVERY IN HARRIS COUNTY.  AND A NEED FOR EQUITABLE ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE FOR HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR ECONOMIC STATUS.  NOW, MORE THAN EVER, SEEMS A WISE TIME TO SUPPORT HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM TO ITS GREATEST CAPACITY.  I WOULD LIKE TO TURN THE PRESENTATION 
          OVER. >>  GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS.  FOR THE RECORD THE I'M THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O. 
          OF HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM.  IF I MAY START BY FIRST THANKING ALL OF OUR HEALTH PERSONNEL, DOCTORS, NURSES, TECHS, EVERYBODY IN HEALTH ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, WHO HAVE BEEN TAKING CARE OF OUR COVID PATIENTS OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF AND DEALING WITH THIS PANDEMIC.  BUT ESPECIALLY OUR HARRIS HEALTH PROVIDERS, NURSES AND ET CETERA.  I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE POSITION AND VISION OF MY BOARD OF TRUSTEES AFTER THE DELIBERATE STUDY OF THE 2021 HOSPITAL DISTRICT TAX RATE.  IN PARTICULAR, WE ASK FOR OUR SUPPORT FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE OF 0.17079 PER $100 EVALUATION FOR THE REASONS I'M GOING TO ADDRESS BELOW.  FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE NEXT FEW MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COURT AND THE RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY THAT ARE PRESENTED TO IN-PERSON OR ONLINE REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF HARRIS HEALTH TO ITS COMMUNITY, OPERATIONAL IMPACTS OF COVID-19 AND THE FUTURE OF HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM AND HARRIS COUNTY.  WHAT HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM MEANS TO HARRIS COUNTY, YOU HEARD THE HOSPITAL REMAINS OF ONE OF TWO ADULT LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTERS IN HOUSTON.  LBJ HOSPITAL IS THE BUSIEST LEVEL 3 TRAUMA CENTER IN TEXAS.  HARRIS HEALTH SERVES THE THIRD MOST POPULACE COUNTY IN THE NATION. TREATING JUST UNDER 300,000 INDIVIDUALS AND PROVIDING OVER 1.6 MILLION OUTPATIENT VISITS ANNUALLY.  HARRIS HEALTH IN CONJUNCTION WITH -- COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND IUT HEALTH IS THE TRAINING SITE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2,500 PHYSICIANS ANNUALLY. MANY OF THEM GO TO PRACTICE IN HARRIS COUNTY WHEN THEY FINISH TRAINING.  HARRIS HEALTH TRAINS OVER 1,000 NURSES, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, RADIOLOGY TECHS AND ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EACH YEAR.  MANY STUDENTS COME FROM THE COMMUNITIES THAT HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM SERVES, THE SAFETY NET HOSPITAL FOR HARRIS COUNTY. AND WHILE THEY COMPRISE ONLY 6.6% OF ALL HOSPITAL BEDS IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE PROVIDE OVER 60% OF HARRIS COUNTY MEDICATED MISSIONS AND 21% OF ALL INUNSURED ADMISSIONS IN HARRIS COUNTY.  HARRIS HEALTH'S STRATEGIC PLAN, IS COMMITTED TO BEING AN INDUSTRY LEADER IN APPROXIMATE ADDRESSING HEALTH DISPARITIES AND INEQUITY IN THE UNDERSERVED AREAS OF HARRIS COUNTY.  HARRIS HEALTH ADOPTED A STRATEGIC PLAN REPLACING AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND RECENTLY COST -- (SOUND OF BEEPING) 
          [01:10:06]
          >> COMMISSIONER:  JUDGE, I WANT TO ASK IF DR. PORSA COULD FINISH HIS THOUGHTS.  WE HAVE FIVE OF US.  I ONLY HAVE ONE C.E.O. OF 
          THE HARRIS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. >> JUST A COUPLE OF MORE 
          MINUTES, JUDGE. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  GO AHEAD, 
          DOCTOR. >>  THANK YOU.  AS I MENTIONED, OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, RECENTLY CAUSED DIRECT PATIENT HARM.  THE PLAN INCLUDES $2.5 BILLION REPLACEMENT PROGRAM FOR BOTH OF OUR HOSPITALS, PROVIDING MORE THAN 1,000 INPATIENT BEDS TO MEET THE GROWING ACUTE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY.  TODAY, WE CONSTANT 140 IN-PATIENT BEDS SHORT AND ANTICIPATE THE NUMBER TO GROW TO 400 BY 2040.  THIS WILL MOVE OUR HOSPITAL PATH FROM MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY ROOMS TO SINGLE OCCUPANCY ROOMS, WHICH ADDRESSES NOT ONLY THE HEALTH, EQUITY, PATIENT SAFETY AS I MENTIONED AND HIPAA ISSUES BUT ALSO BRING OUR FACILITIES IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE EXISTING HOSPITAL CODES.  FUTURE REVENUES ARE NEEDED TO FINANCE AND OPERATE THE NEW LARGER FOOTPRINT THAT WILL PROVIDE ACCESS TO MORE EFFICIENT, HIGHER QUALITY, SAFER AND MORE EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE TO THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY. YOU HEARD ABOUT THE IMPACT OF COVID-19.  COVID-19 DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED THE PATIENTS SERVED BY HARRIS HEALTH.  HIGHLIGHTING DISPARITIES AND INEQUITIES IN HARRIS COUNTY.  HARRIS HEALTH PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN OVERALL COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO COVID-19 AT ANY GIVEN TIME. HARRIS HEALTH HAS HAD THE LARGEST NUMBER OF COVID PATIENTS MAKING IT A COMMUNITY RESOURCE AND IMPORTANT PARTNER TO HOSPITALS IN THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER.  HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM INCURRED $241 MILLION IN DIRECT AND INCREMENTAL SUPPLIES AND SERVICES AND DIRECT PATIENT CARE COSTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF PERSONS WITH COVID-19.  WORK FORCE SHORTAGES AND COVID-19 RESPONSE HAS RESULTED IN PERMANENT INCREASED OPERATIONAL COSTS THAT WILL EXCEED $40 MILLION A YEAR.  AGAIN, THESE ARE PERMANENT INCREASED COSTS.  BUDGETARY INFLATION DUE TO COVID-19 AND MARKETPLACE WORK FORCE AS WELL AS SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS HAVE RISEN FROM FROM AN ANALYZED 3% EQUALING TO $50 MILLION TO $60 MILLION A YEAR BEFORE COVID.  TO AN ANTICIPATED 5-6% TRANSLATING TO $100 MILLION TO $120 MILLION FOR THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.  THESE ARE REAL COSTS.  THE COUNTY BUDGET PROPOSED 2021 COMBINED TAX RATE WOULD LEAVE THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT'S TAX RATE UNCHANGED COMPARED TO 2020 WHILE REDUCING OVERALL TAX RATE FOR HARRIS COUNTY BY 2.2%.  THIS WILL BE AN OVERALL HARRIS COUNTY TAX RATE REDUCTION FOR A THIRD YEAR IN A ROW.  THIS IS GREAT FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY.  HOWEVER, AND BOUTS OF THE PREVIOUSLY-MENTIONED ADDED AND (INAUDIBLE) CREASING INFLATIONARY OPERATIONAL AND STRATEGIC CAPITAL COSTS IN THE IMMEDIATE AND NEAR FUTURE AND AS DR. BRACY STATED I ASK THAT YOU RESPECTFULLY APPROVE THE TAX INCREASE ORDINARY APPROVED TO AS THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE.  PLEASE NOTE THAT EVEN AT THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT'S 2021 TAX RATE WOULD STILL BE LOWER THAN THE TAX RATE IN 2018.  I'M AGAIN ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR AN APPROPRIATE TAX RATE FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO MEET OUR ONGOING OBLIGATIONS TO THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY AND PROVIDING THEM WITH HIGH QUALITY, SAFE, EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE TODAY AND INTO THE FUTURE.  IT TRULY IS A SUPPORT FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND COMMISSIONERS' SUPPORT AND TRUSTEES OF HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM. 
          THANK YOU AGAIN. >> COMMISSIONER:  THANK YOU. 
          DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMARKS.  AND CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE RECEIVED AS A RESULT OF MEDICAID 
          EXPANSION? >>  MEDICAID EXPANSION, NONE, COMMISSIONER. WE DIDN'T EXPAND MEDICAID TAXES. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU COULD HAVE 
          RECEIVED IF IT HAD BEEN DONE? >>  ABOUT $80 MILLION, COMMISSIONER.  SOMEWHERE WITHIN $80 MILLION TO $100 MILLION. 
          [01:15:02]
          >>  PER YEAR? >>  PER YEAR. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  SAY THAT AGAIN, DOCTOR. 
          >>  IF WE WERE TO EXPAND MEDICAID IN TEXAS, HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM WOULD HAVE RECEIVED THROUGH MEDICAID DOLLARS SOMEWHERE AROUND $80 MILLION ANNUALLY. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  SO IF WE HAD EXPANDED MEDICAID, THERE MIGHT BE GREATER ROOM TO COMPROMISE WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ON HIS RATE PROPOSAL, BUT RIGHT NOW, IT WOULD BE A TRUE NET LOSS TO OUR 
          OPERATIONS? >>  YEAH, COMMISSIONER.  LET ME BE VERY CLEAR:  IT'S A LOSS OF POTENTIAL REVENUE.  AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK COMMISSIONER RAMSEY OR MAYBE MR. BARRY CAN QUANTIFY THE $36 MILLION.  THAT $36 MILLION ANNUALLY OVER SEVERAL YEARS ADDS UP TO BE A QUITE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT.  AS I MENTIONED IN MY COMMENT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ANTICIPATING REQUIRING ANOTHER 100 BEDS. THAT'S -- IF YOU'RE SAYING THE NEXT TEN YEARS, WE NEED ADDITIONAL OPERATIONAL REVENUES TO RUN BASICALLY ANOTHER HOSPITAL, THAT'S SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $500 MILLION A YEAR.  SO AS THE $36 MILLION GOING TO BREAK US NEXT YEAR? NO, IT DOESN'T.  BUT IT REALLY BECOMES A SHORT SIGHTED VIEW OF WHAT HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM MEANS TO THIS COUNTY AND GOING TO CONTINUE TO MEAN TO THIS COUNTY IF WE'RE GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT MEMBER OF THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY IN THIS AREA AND PROVIDING CARE TO THE POPULATION OF HARRIS COUNTY. AND INDIGENT AND NON-INDIGENT. 
          YOU HEARD THE COMMENTS ABOUT THE LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTER IN THIS COUNTY.  IT'S NOT JUST THE INDIGENT.  IT'S NOT JUST THE INDIGENT THAT GET INTO CAR CRASHES AND NEED HELP. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  COUPLE MORE THINGS, DOCTOR.  AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU NEED MONEY TO RUN ANOTHER HOSPITAL.  EAST HARRIS COUNTY, PRECINCT 2, OF WHICH MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS ARE CURRENTLY GOING TO YOUR BEDS OH HE OWE OR TRYING TO GO TO OUR BEDS.  IF YOU HAD ANY AVAILABLE, THEY WOULD RATHER BE IN YOUR CARE THAN AT HOME FEELING TERRIBLE.  AND YOU AND I HAVE GONE ROUND AND ROUND TRYING TO THINK OF A WAY TO BUILD A HOSPITAL IN PRECINCT 2, OF WHICH YOU DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL CAPACITY TO DO SO.  I THINK YOU TOLD ME ABOUT $500 MILLION TO CONSTRUCT.  AND $1 MILLION PER BED PER YEAR TO OPERATE. 
          >>  THAT'S A SMALL HOSPITAL, YEAH. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  AND THEN, YET PRECINCT 2 HAS THE HIGHEST MORTALITY RATE.  SO MY FOLKS DON'T GET TO LIVE AS LONG AS OTHERS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO PROPER CARE LIKE OTHER SIDES OF THE COUNTY DO. THEN, LASTLY, DR. PORSA, TWITH WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LEGISLATOR, IF WE WERE TO SAY, LOOK, I'M, YOU KNOW -- AS A C.E.O., YOU'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH THIS COURT.  YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO TIGHTEN THINGS UP. 
          AND YOU'LL MAKE -- YOU'LL TRY TO MAKE IT WORK.  BUT IN EFFECT, IF WE DO ADOPT A NEW RATE -- AND I KEEP SCRATCHING MY HEAD.  YOU'VE COME FROM THE PARKLAND SYSTEM IN DALLAS.  DALLAS HAS A HIGHER TAX 
          RATE FOR HER HOSPITAL SYSTEM. >>  CORRECT. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  WE WOULD END UPSETTING A NEW RATE THAT WOULDN'T BE WITH YOU FOR ONE YEAR.  IF ANY, IT WOULD REMAIN AT THE LOWER LEVEL.  AND AS A RESULT, THE ONLY OTHER PLACE WE COULD GO IN THE FUTURE IS LOWER! NOT BACK TO 2019-2020 LEVELS. 
          SO THIS WOULD IN EFFECT PUT MORE PEOPLE IN HARM'S WAY.  AND WITHOUT THE EXPANSION OF MEDICAID, THERE IS NO NEW -- 
          [01:20:02]
THERE'S NOT -- WITHOUT A NEW PANDEMIC, THERE'S NO NEW FEDERAL DOLLARS TO HELP YOU FILL GAPS IN YOUR OPERATIONS, IS THAT A FAIR 
          ASSESSMENT? >>  YEAH, YOU SAID IT REALLY WELL, COMMISSIONER.  TWO THINGS. ONE, MR. BARRY ACTUALLY PAINTED THE PICTURE REALLY WELL ABOUT WHEN YOU LOWER THE RATE IT REALLY NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF DOLLARS IMPACTS OUR BOTTOM LINE IN TERMS OF LOST REVENUE, BUT IT REALLY HAMPERS THE COURT'S ABILITY TO IN LATER YEARS TO HAVE AS GREAT OF AN IMPACT, BECAUSE BY LAW, YOU'RE LIMITED TO BEING ABLE TO INCREASE THE TAX RATE BY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE.  WHILE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF A SMALLER NUMBER IS A SMALLER NUMBER.  THAT'S NUMBER ONE.  NUMBER TWO, YOU'RE CORRECT.  THIS HAS BEEN A BIZARRE YEAR BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.  IT'S BEEN A TERRIBLE YEAR IN TERMS OF LOSS OF LIFE.  AND THE HARDSHIP THAT THE HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL HAVE SUFFERED.  BUT FINANCIALLY, IT'S BEEN A BIZARRE WAY, BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO COVER THE COST OF THE CARING FOR THE COVID PATIENTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR INSURANCE COVERAGE. BUT TO YOUR POINT, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN COUNT ON.  NOT THAT I WANT TO HAVE ANOTHER PANDEMIC JUST SO WE CAN HAVE PEOPLE COVERED BY FEDERAL DOLLARS.  THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE A RECURRING EVENT AND A SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR A HOSPITAL SYSTEM. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  SO AS WE -- MY FINAL COMMENT IS THAT SO WE HEARD -- HAVE WE HEARD FROM GROUPS SAYING DON'T PUT INFRASTRUCTURE IN JEOPARDY. DON'T COMPROMISE FLOOD BOND PROJECTS.  KEEP ROADWAYS IN HAD PRISTINE CONDITION.  YOU'RE AN ENGINEER FOR THE HUMAN BODY. YOU'RE REPAIRING HUMAN BEINGS. 
          YOU'RE KEEPING THEM -- YOU'RE MAKING THEM AS RESILIENT AS POSSIBLE.  SO YOU'RE AN ENGINEER OF A DIFFERENT SORT OF THE HUMAN BODY.  SO LET ME JUST SAY THAT I ADVOCATE FOR YOU, BECAUSE I HAVE A GREAT APPRECIATION FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE ANOTHER ENGINEER TO GO TO.  OF THE SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU 
          AND YOUR STAFF DOES. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  COMMISSIONER 
          ELLISON AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> COMMISSIONER:  MR. CHAIRMAN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING ON THE LINE AS WELL.  I SEE YOU STILL THERE.  I APPRECIATE YOU SIGNING ON.  DOCTOR, YOU CAN ANSWER MY QUESTIONS.  I ASSUME YOU AND THE CHAIR SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE AT LEAST MAJORITY OF THE BOARD.  I ASSUME YOU ALL HAVE MET.  THIS IS NOT BY ACCIDENT. SO YOUR BOARD IS WELL AWARE OF 
          THE POSITION YOU TAKE? >>  YES.  NO DOUBT, THE BOARD IS WELL AWARE OF THE POSITION.  IT IS OUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPRESENT THOSE DEPENDENT ON HARRIS HEALTH.  THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT WE NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IN ORDER TO MAKE THE CARE THAT WE PROVIDE THE VERY BEST.  I CAN TELL YOU THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BRILLIANT CAREGIVERS, SOME OF THEM FEEL AS THOUGH THEY HAVE ONE ARM TIED BEHIND THEIR BACK BECAUSE OF CERTAIN RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS. WHAT I ASK YOU TO DO IS TO EMPOWER THOSE 2,500 OR SO LEARNED FOLKS FROM UT AND BAYLOR, SO THEY CAN DELIVER THE FULL EXTENT OF THEIR CAPABILITY 
          TO TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS. >> COMMISSIONER:  DR. PORSA, YOU KNOW THE OPTION YOU ARE ASKING US IS ONE THAT IS NOT ON THE TABLE UNFORTUNATELY.  I AGREE WITH YOU.  BUT IN THE SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE, I THINK I SAID I'M WILLING TO LIVE WITH WHAT MR. BARRY RECOMMENDED.  BUT CAN YOU PUT A FACE ON WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO, DR. PORSA OR THE CHAIR, EITHER ONE OF YOU CAN ANSWER.  ASSUMING WE TAKE THE FIRST OPTION THAT CAME UP -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CALCULATE THE NUMBERS ON THE SECOND OPTION THAT CAME UP.  YOU'VE GOT NO NEW REVENUE.  AND THEN, YOU HAVE A CUT OF $30 MILLION.  THE JUDGE HAD FIGURES EARLIER.  I USED THEM AT A PRESS CONFERENCE.  AND I ASSUME THAT WAS -- THE NURSES AND DOCTORS WILL BE CUT. PATIENTS WOULDN'T BE SERVED.  DO YOU KNOW THAT NUMBER FOR THE COUNTERPROPOSAL OF A CUT OF $30 MILLION?  IS THAT RIGHT? $37 MILLION. 
          >> YEAH, COMMISSIONER, IT'S REALLY NOT A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCE.  LET ME ANSWER YOUR QUESTION THIS WAY, BECAUSE EITHER YOU OR COMMISSIONER GARCIA REFERENCED PARKLAND 
          [01:25:08]
HOSPITAL.  THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE REALLY STRUGGLED WITH. 
          LAST YEAR, THE MRI MACHINE STOPPED WORKING. 
          >>  PARKLAND IS IN DALLAS BY THE WAY. 
          >>  PARKLAND IS IN DALLAS COUNTY, YES. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  YOUR COUNTERPART IN DALLAS. 
          >>  YES, THE MRI MACHINE STOPPED WORKING.  THEN, I HEARD THAT PATIENTS -- MICU PATIENTS, INTUBATED PATIENTS, CRITICALLY-ILL PATIENTS WERE BEING AMBULANCED FROM THE HOSPITAL TO SMITH FOR RECEIVING AN MRI.  AND COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE HOSPITAL ONE OF TWO LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTERS IN HOUSTON, HAD ONLY ONE MRI MACHINE.  THAT'S UNCONSCIONABLE! THAT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE AND I THINK IS THE BEST EXAMPLE I CAN USE AS TO WHY INVESTING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM MAKES SENSE AND IS IMPORTANT.  I'M SURE NONE OF YOU WOULD WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO YOU OR TO YOUR LOVED ONES.  THAT THEY'RE IN THE HOSPITAL. THEY'RE CRITICALLY ILL.  THAT THEY HAVE TO BE SHIPPED TO ANOTHER LOCATION JUST TO GET AN MRI.  JUST FOR A COMPARISON, COMMISSIONER, SINCE YOU MENTIONED PARKLAND HOSPITAL IN DALLAS.  THEY HAVE 17 MRI 
          MACHINES IN THE HOSPITAL. >> COMMISSIONER:  CAN YOU REMIND US OF YOUR BACKGROUND WITH THE DALLAS CARE SYSTEM. 
          >>  SURE.  I LEFT HOUSTON IN 2007 AND WENT TO DALLAS.  AND I WAS A MEMBER OF PARKLAND HOSPITAL FROM 2007 TO LAST YEAR, FOR 13 YEARS AT PARKLAND HOSPITAL.  THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS, INCLUDING INTERIM CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AND CHIEF 
          STRATEGY OFFICE OF PARKLAND. >> COMMISSIONER:  CAN YOU GIVE US THE RIPPLE IMPACT IF WE PUT THESE CUTS IN PLACE, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE MAY THINK WELL IT DOESN'T APPLY TO ME.  I DON'T PLAN ON GOING TO THE HOSPITAL FOR THE INDIGENT.  WHAT IMPACT DOES IT HAVE ON THE OTHER HOSPITAL? 
          >>  GREAT IMPACT.  COMMISSIONER. THAT'S THE THING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO REALIZE. WE ARE NOT A HOSPITAL FOR THE INDIGENT.  WE ARE A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITAL SYSTEM PROVIDING CARE. I MENTIONED IT'S TRUE THAT WE'RE SMALLER MEMBER OF THE SYSTEM. WE ONLY 6.5% OF THE TOTAL BEDS. 
          WE PROVIDE THE MAJORITY OF THE MEDICATED MISSIONS.  AND THE MAJORITY OF THE UNINSURED ADMISSIONS IN THE COUNTY.  THOSE PEOPLE, IF NOT FOR HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM WOULD BE ADDING ADDITIONAL STRESS TO THE OTHER TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITALS. 
          A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS, COMMISSIONER WAS LAST YEAR DURING COVID-19, WHERE ARE ALL HOSPITAL SYSTEMS WERE BEING STRESSED, NOT JUST HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM.  IT LITERALLY TOOK A VILLAGE TO PROVIDE CARE FOR OUR COUNTY RESIDENTS.  IT WAS INTERESTING, BECAUSE I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PEOPLE ARE COVERED. SO IT'S NOT AN INDIGENT VERSUS NON-INDIGENT.  IT WAS KIND OF AN EQUALIZER EFFECT.  BUT IT TOOK ALL OF US TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE CARE. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  SO YOU TAKE MOST OF THOSE WHO ARE INDIGENT, BUT I JUST WANT TO STRESS THIS POINT.  BEING A POLITICIAN AND A LAWYER.  WHAT IS IT CALLED, YOUR -- HIPOCRATIC OATH. 
          DOCTORS TOOK THE OATH AND TREAT THEM IF THEY GO THERE. 
          >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> COMMISSIONER:  I WANT TO ENCOURAGE LAWYERS AND POLITICIANS NOT TO BE HYPOCRITES AND ACT LIKE IT DOES NOT IMPACT PEOPLE IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY. 
          AND THE LAST QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS YOU TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO DO A BOND ISSUE TO IMPROVE THE FACILITY.  WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN DALLAS?  I KNOW YOU WANT TO TRY TO GO TO PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY TO RAISE SOME MONEY.  OBVIOUSLY, YOU GOT TO GO TO THE TAXPAYERS AS WELL. WHAT DOES IT SAY TO THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY, WHOEVER THE FOLKS ARE YOU'RE GOING TO, OR SOME OF YOUR COMPETITORS SAYING CAN YOU PUT MONEY HERE, BECAUSE IT RELIEVES THE OVERALL SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY OF THEM. 
          WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN DALLAS IN THAT REGARD? 
          >>  LET ME ANSWER.  YOU'RE RIGHT.  THE OTHER HOSPITAL 
          [01:30:04]
SYSTEMS ABSOLUTELY HAVE A SKIN IN THIS GAME.  AND THIS IS THE CONVERSATION THAT I'VE STARTED. SO YOU'RE CORRECT IN THAT.  AS FAR AS MY EXPERIENCE AT PARKLAND HOSPITAL, I WAS THERE WHEN THE NEW PARKLAND HOSPITAL WAS BEING BUILT.  AND THEN, MOVED PATIENTS FROM THE OLD HOSPITAL TO THE NEW HOSPITAL.  BUT THE EXPERIENCE WAS THIS, COMMISSIONER, IT WAS THAT THE TOTAL COST WAS $1.2 BILLION FOR THE NEW PARKLAND HOSPITAL.  THIS WAS NOW SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AGO.  WHAT WAS PROPOSED TO THE TAXPAYER WAS THAT A 1/3 OF THE COST WAS GOING TO BE BROUGHT IN BY CASH BY PARKLAND HOSPITAL.  1/3 RAISED BY PHILANTHROPY AND THE 1/3 TO VOTERS BY THE BOND ISSUE.  IT WAS 87% APPROVAL RATE.  THE BIG PART WAS THAT MESSAGE TO THE TAXPAYERS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT ALL OF THIS ON YOUR SHOULDERS.  THAT WE HAVE BEEN PRUDENT AND THINKING AHEAD. WE KNEW THIS WAS COMING.  AND WE WERE ABLE TO PUT SOME MONEY -- WHEN I SAY "WE", PARKLAND HOSPITAL IN DALLAS PUT MONEY ASIDE TO THIS COST. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  I WANT TO REITERATE COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S POINT, AND I THINK I HEARD THE JUDGE ALLUDE TO IT AS WELL.  I ASKED FOR A NUMBER AGAIN.  IF TEXAS THREW DOWN OUR SHARE OF AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE MONEY, IT WOULD BE A LOT EASIER TO NOT BE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION TODAY. DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? 
          >>  OF COURSE, YES. >> COMMISSIONER:  ALL RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.  I APPRECIATE THE FREQUENT UPDATES.  NO ONE COMMUNICATES BETTER THAN YOU DO. 
          LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT PLAN YOU'RE WORKING ON.  I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE DYNAMITE IN TERMS OF A BOND ISSUE COMING DOWN THE PIPE.  PEOPLE THAT DO THEIR HOMEWORK LIKE YOU DO USUALLY ARE THE SUCCESSFUL RECIPIENTS OF A GREAT BOND ISSUE.  LOOKING FORWARD TO ADDRESSING MANY OF THESE CAPITAL PROJECT NEEDS THERE IN THE FUTURE.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR 
          LEADERSHIP. >>  THANK YOU, SIR.  I APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH.  AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT, 
          COMMISSIONER.  GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  DOCTORS, THANK YOU ALSO FOR JOINING US. AND OF COURSE, THE BOARD FOR TAKING A POSITION ON THIS.  CAN YOU GUYS WALK ME THROUGH -- WALK US THROUGH WHAT YOU GUYS ARE PROPOSING SPECIFICALLY, WHAT THE IMPACT OF THAT WOULD BE IN DOLLARS?  DO YOU GUYS OR PERHAPS DAVE HAVE THE NUMBERS AS FAR AS WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN FOR YOUR 
          REVENUE? >>  I DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL DOLLAR NUMBERS, JUDGE.  WHAT I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME IS THE INITIAL PROPOSAL BY THE COUNTY BUDGET OFFICE.  IT WAS ONE OF THE OPTIONS.  AND AGAIN, THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE WOULD INCREASE OUR TAX RATE, THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION TO 067923, LEAVING DEBT SERVICE RATE 00174. 
          WITH OVERALL TAX RATE OF 017097. WHICH AGAIN, WOULD BE JUST A 
          HAIR BELOW OUR TAX RATE IN 2018. >> COMMISSIONER:  WELL, IF I MAY, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THE POINT THAT INVESTMENT IN THIS HEALTH IS NOT A WASTE OF RESOURCES.  THE PUBLIC HEALTH IS A TEAM SPORT, AS EVIDENCE BY COVID-19 AND THE IMPACT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES BEYOND THE INDIVIDUAL.  NOT TO MENTION THE POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH IN THE MACRO ECONOMIC SENSE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN, SAY, PRECINCT 2, HAVE LONGER LIFE-SPANS AND HAVE A LONGER PRODUCTIVE LIFE.  AGAIN, THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE COUNTY. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN ONLY BE SPUN AS POSITIVE RATHER THAN NEGATIVE. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  SO JUST SO THAT I HAVE IT ALL IN FRONT OF ME, DAVE'S PROPOSAL, COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S PROPOSAL WOULD HAVE PUT THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM AT $4.6 MILLION OVER THE 2022 BUDGET.  SO WE NEED THE 2022 BUDGET.  AND THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE WOULD HAVE A $40 MILLION BELOW THAT.  SO THE NEW NO REVENUE RATE WOULD HAVE ABOUT 36 MILLION DOLLARSISH BELOW BUDGET, CORRECT, DAVE? WHICH IS UNTENABLE IN MY MIND. 
          [01:35:02]
THAT SAID, AS WE'VE ALL ACKNOWLEDGED, IT'S A LITTLE BIT SPLITTING HAIRS WHEN WE SAY CAN WE MEET THE BUDGET FOR A SYSTEM THAT IS UNDERFUNDED TO THE TUNE THAT WE HAVE ONE MRI MACHINE IN ONE OF TWO LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTERS IN OUR REGION.  AND WE'VE ALL HEARD THE STORIES OF HOW UNDERFUNDED OUR PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM IS.  SO YOU GUYS ARE SAYING ACTUALLY WE SHOULD GO TO THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE AS OPPOSED TO LOWERING THE FLOOR. 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOUR PROPOSAL, IF I HAVE THIS CORRECT, WOULD PUT US $30 MILLION UNDER THE 2022 BUDGET STILL AS OPPOSED TO PERHAPS $36 MILLION BELOW THE BUDGET.  SO DO YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS, DAVE, AS TO WHAT THEIR REQUEST -- AND WE'RE ENTERTAINING COMMISSIONER'S RAMSEY PROPOSAL, I THINK WE'RE FAIR TO ENTERTAIN DR. PORSA'S POINT, WHICH I THINK IS EXTREMELY VALID AND DR. BRACEY, THE BOARD THAT I UNDERSTAND, THE FOLKS THAT LEAD OUR PUBLIC 
          HOSPITAL DISTRICT.  YES. >>  THE PROPOSAL THAT WE HEARD TODAY TO INCREASE TO VOTER APPROVAL RATE WOULD BE $20 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING ON TOP OF WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA PROPOSED. SO THE TOTAL DIFFERENCE IN RATES IF YOU WANT TO GO FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, WOULD BE ABOUT $60 MILLION.  FOR THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, $25 MILLION ABOVE OUR CURRENT BUDGET APPROVED BY THIS COURT.  THE VOTER APPROVE 
          RATES WOULD BE OVER $35 MILLION. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  WHAT WOULD BE THE TAX RATE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSAL COMMISSIONER GARCIA BROUGHT WHICH IS THE SAME ONE YOU BROUGHT, THAT IS THE 2.2% REDUCTION OF OVERALL TAX RATE. WITH DR. PORSA'S PROPOSAL AND THE BOARD'S PROPOSAL, WHAT WOULD THAT MEAN FOR OUR TAX RATE? 
          >>  IT WOULD BE VERY CLOSE TO STAYING CONSTANT.  I HAVEN'T DONE THE EXACT MATH.  BUT CLOSE TO STAYING CONSTANT. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  YEAH, AND I JUST KEEP GOING BACK TO THERE'S SURELY A POLITICAL WIN TO BE HAD SAYING WE CUT TAXES MORE AND MORE.  BUT IT'S SETTING ALREADY THE PROPOSAL IS, AS I HEAR, BARELY MEETING THE NEEDS -- NOT QUITE MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, LET ALONE ENSURING WE'RE CATCHING UP.  I'M VERY NERVOUS ABOUT PUTTING THESE FOLKS DEEPER IN THE HOLE.  I MEAN, NOT THEM.  IT'S NOT THE BOARD.  IT'S NOT THE DOCTORS. 
          IT'S EVERY PERSON THAT USES OUR PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM, OUR CLINICS.  THAT NEEDS AN MRI FROM THE HOSPITAL WHO MAY NOT BE THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE INDIGENT. THEY'RE THERE BECAUSE SOMEBODY CUT THEM OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. COMMISSIONER ELLIS? 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT THIS QUESTION TO MR. BARRY TO MAKE SURE WE ALL UNDERSTAND IT.  WHEN HARRIS HEALTH MAKES THE DECISION TO GO TO THE VOTERS ON A BOND ISSUE, FOR $1 BILLION, I THINK YOU SAID, CORRECT, DOCTOR? 
          >>  $2.5 BILLION. >> COMMISSIONER:  $2.5 BILLION, IT WILL TAKE THREE VOTES -- IT WILL TAKE YOUR BBOARD TO COME T US AND WE HAVE TO VOTE TO TAKE IT TO THE VOTERS, RIGHT? 
          >>  THAT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING, RIGHT. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  LEGAL, IS THAT CORRECT.  IF I CAN RECALL FROM MY PREVIOUS LIFE, HIS BOARD WOULD VOTE TO APPROVE -- JUST APPROVE.  AND THEN, IT WOULD COME TO THIS COURT TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.  THERE YOU ARE.  IS THAT CORRECT?  SO I WAS ASKING FOR THE PROCESS, BECAUSE I DON'T REMEMBER IT.  WHEN THEY COME IN WITH THIS BOND ISSUE.  HIS BOARD VOTES AND SEND IT TO US AND PUT 
          IT ON THE BALLOT. >>  THAT'S CORRECT.  WE PUT IT 
          ON THE BALLOT. >> COMMISSIONER:  THREE VOTES, ON THE BALLOT.  FOR $2.5 BILLION, MY GUESS, THEN, WE WOULD HAVE TO SET THE TAX RATE. IT WOULD TAKE FOUR OF US TO SHOW UP.  THREE OF US TO APPROVE WHAT I ASSUME WOULD BE A PERCENT OF TAX RATE, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY BE ABOVE WHAT IT IS AT THE TIME 
          THE ISSUE COMES. >>  RIGHT.  IF THERE'S -- THE BOND ELECTION RESULTS WOULD BE THE VOTE YOU SET THE RATE TO 
          MEET THAT BOND ELECTION. >> COMMISSIONER:  IT WOULDN'T BE 
          A SEPARATE ONE? >>  NO. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  IT DOESN'T TAKE THE FOUR VOTES, JUST THE 
          THREE? >>  JUST THE THREE FOR THE BOND 
          [01:40:02]
PORTION.  IF YOU'RE GOING TO SET A TAX RATE SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, AFTER THAT, TO MEET IT, THAT WOULD REQUIRE -- 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  IF THAT'S THE CASE -- I'M NOT A BANKER ANYMORE.  BUT I THINK FROM MY OLD JOB, LIKE I THINK I WAS INVOLVED SOME TIME AGO FOR THE DALLAS SYSTEM WAY BACK.  MAYBE BEFORE YOUR TIME.  THIS MAY HAVE BEEN BACK IN THE '80S.  WHEN THEY DID ONE.  BUT IT'S A SEPARATE VOTE.  YOU DIDN'T HAVE THIS LAW.  BUT WE HAVE TO SET THE TAX RATE, LATER.  THE VOTERS SAY THIS IS WHAT WE AGREE TO. AND THEN, WE AS A BODY HAVE TO COME BACK UNDER THE NEW LAW AND SET THE RATE. 
          >>  THAT'S CORRECT.  AND IF YOU FAIL TO SET A RATE, THE ONLY WAY WE AVOID DEFAULTING ON DEBT IS MONEY FROM OPERATIONS.  WE COULD HAVE A HOSPITAL BUT NOT THE MONEY. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  WE DEFAULT ON THE BONDS, WHICH COULD BE UGLY. 
          >>  PERHAPS WORSE. >> COMMISSIONER:  I WANT TO MENTION IT SO WE UNDERSTAND IT UNDER THIS NEW LAW.  I DON'T KNOW IF MY COLLEAGUES TOOK THIS INTO ACCOUNT.  DOCTOR, THE NUMBER YOU'RE RECOMMENDING, WHICH WOULD BRING IN, YOU SAY 
          80 -- 60?  HAD >> IF WE LOOK AT THE SPREAD FROM THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE TO THE RATE PROPOSED BY HARRIS HEALTH. 
          IT'S $60 MILLION DIFFERENCE IN FUNDING. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  BUT IT'S $25 MILLION OVER THE 2022 
          BUDGET. >>  CORRECT. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THE TAX RATE WOULD POSSIBLY BE A TAX CUT OR 
          MOST THE SAME? >>  CORRECT.  I DID THE MATH.  A 
          SMALL REDUCTION. >> COMMISSIONER:  BECAUSE I WANT TO BE FAIR TO THE DOCTOR AND HIS BOARD, IT'S ABOUT $2 BILLION YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF.  WE'RE NOT GIVING YOUR BOARD A PAY RAISE. 
          WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY HYPOTHETICALLY? I WANT TO WALK THROUGH, WHAT WOULD IT MEAN AS PART OF THAT TO PREPARE FOR THE CASH THAT YOU WANT TO PUT IN AS -- WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT?  IF WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION AND DIDN'T HAVE YOU THERE THAT DAY, I THINK YOU CALLED YOU LATER AND SAID -- YOU SAID YOU WERE GETTING READY TO COME.  I SAID A LITTLE LATE, FRIEND.  WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT? 
          >>  IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL $20 MILLION, THE DIFFERENCE, LET'S TALK MORE GLOBALLY.  LET'S SAY $50 MILLION, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT I'M PROPOSING AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET, KEEPING THE TAX RATE THE SAME. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  IT WOULD BE 50 COMPARED TO THE NO NEW 
          REVENUE. >>  NO NEW REVENUE. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET, 25. 
          >> THAT'S CORRECT. >>  SO THAT $20 MILLION -- 
          (SIMULTANEOUS SPEAKING) >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WHAT IT ALLOWS US TO DO IS THAT, AGAIN, IT'S NOT A ONE-YEAR EQUATION. 
          IT'S NOT THAT ALL OF US ARE GOING TO HAVE AN EXTRA $20 MILLION NEXT YEAR.  THAT'S $20 MILLION THAT I CAN COUNT ON FOR THE UPCOMING YEARS FOR THE ADDITIONAL OPERATIONAL COST THAT I KNOW I'M GOING TO INCUR. COMMISSIONER GARCIA TALKED ABOUT THE IDEA OF A HOSPITAL IN EAST HOUSTON THAT HE AND I HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH.  I'M ALWAYS KIND OF STICKING TO OUR MISSION IN HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM WHICH IS A COMMUNITY-ORIENTED PROVIDER OF CARE.  I BELIEVE IN ADDITIONAL -- WE KNOW PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT POTENTIALLY THREE NEW CLINICS.  EACH OF THOSE CLINICS HAS A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT COSTS.  AN AVERAGE -- ABOUT $50 MILLION. 
          TO RUN IT, IT'S $20 MILLION A YEAR, EACH CLINIC.  I KNOW THE OPERATIONAL COST COVERED FOR ONE OF THOSE CLINICS.  THAT'S WHAT IT WOULD MEAN TO ME, COMMISSIONER. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  SO ANOTHER POINT I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT SO MUCH OF THE PAST WE'VE BEEN OPERATING ON A GET ALONG BASIS.  RATHER THAN AN OPTIMAL BASIS.  TODAY AS WE SPEAK, WE HAVE A BACKLOG OF FOLKS WHO NEED TO HAVE C COLONOSCOPIES DONE SO WE CAN PREVENT THEM FROM DEVELOPING LETHAL CANCER.  THERE'S MUCH WE CAN DO.  WE'RE NOT ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT WAITING UNTIL ONE SHOWS UP IN THE HOSPITAL AT DEATH'S DOOR.  WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LAUNCHING A POPULATION HEALTH CAMPAIGN TO MAKE -- YOU KNOW, WE ARE HARRIS HEALTH. 
          WE'RE NOT HARRIS SICK.  WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BEGINNING TO TURN 
          [01:45:06]
THE CORNER AND TO MINIMIZE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT SHOW UP AT THE END OF ROAD.  SO WE WANT TO BE AGGRESSIVE.  WE KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE NOT GETTING ADEQUATE SERVICES TODAY. 
          WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THOSE SERVICES AVAILABLE FURTHER. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT POINT.  MY MOTHER DIED OF COLON CANCER.  I'M SENSITIVE TO THAT.  ALL FIVES US NOW HAVE GOOD HEALTHCARE.  PAY EXTRA AND WE CAN GET THE CONCIERGE SERVICE.  THAT HITS A CORD WITH ME.  I WANT TO ASK THIS QUESTION NOT TO BE HOSTILE. I'M SURE PEOPLE UP HERE ARE THINKING IT.  THE WHAT ABOUT THE FEDERAL MONEY?  HOW MUCH DO YOU GET?  I KNOW THAT'S SHORT-TERM, A COUPLE OF YEARS.  I WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION.  I THINK THAT'S ONLY FAIR. 
          >>  SO I'M GOING TO ASK MIKE NORBY TO KEEP ME HONEST.  I BELIEVE THE TOTAL AMOUNT WE'RE GETTING FROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INCLUSIVE IS $750 MILLION.  AM I CLOSE, MIKE, OR FAR OUT? 
          >>  ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY UNRELATED TO COVID? FOR EXAMPLE, OUR MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT, MEDICAID SUPPLEMENTAL AND MEDICARE DISH... 
          >> THAT'S WHAT I WAS RESPONDING TO. 
          >>  OKAY.  IF IT'S NOT SPECIFIC TO COVID, YES, PROBABLY 40% OF OUR BUDGET ACTUALLY COMES FROM FEDERAL FUNDING. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  SO WITH THE ARPER MONEY, COVID MONEY, YOU GET ARPER MONEY AS WELL, CORRECT, OR DO YOU NOT? 
          >>  PRIMARILY, THE REIMBURSEMENT HAS BEEN FOR UNINSURED COVID PATIENTS.  IN THIS PAST YEAR, IT WAS JUST SHORT OF $120 MILLION. 
          ALSO POINT OUT AS DR. PORSA NOTED, THAT WAS REIMBURSEMENT WITH THE COST THAT WE INCURRED BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF EXTRA 
          COSTS RELATED TO COVID PATIENTS. >> COMMISSIONER:  BIG PICTURE WHAT I'M ASKING IS, WHAT OF THE FEDERAL DOLLARS HAVE YOU GOT FROM OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, CAN BE STOCKPILED OR WILL BE THERE GOING TOWARDS THE BOND ISSUE? IS IT ALL GONE?  IS IT ALL 
          EARMARKED? >>  FROM THE STANDPOINT OF OUR REPORTING, WERE THOSE DOLLARS RECEIVED, IF WE DO NOT SHOW THAT THOSE DOLLARS WERE SPENT ON COVID-RELATED EXPENSES, AND AT THIS POINT WE STILL HAVE ROUGHLY $50 MILLION OF THE INITIAL DISTRIBUTION, THAT WE HAVE AS A LIABILITY ON THE BOOKS, IF THAT IS NOT SPENT BY THE TIME THE PANDEMIC ENDS, ANY EXCESS WILL HAVE TO BE REFUNDED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNDER THE 
          CURRENT RULES. >> COMMISSIONER:  I KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN. THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO THE EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION AND GET SITE BEDS AND LEADERSHIP.  I KNOW THAT WON'T HAPPEN.  I DIDN'T WANT TO SAY, JUDGE, THAT THE REASON WHY I DIDN'T MAKE A MOTION FOR A HIGHER RATE WHEN WE HAD THE INITIAL DISCUSSION WAS THE FEAR WAS PEOPLE WOULDN'T SHOW UP ON THIS PROPOSAL. (CHUCKLING) 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  ARE SO I WAS RELUCTANT TO.  SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW IF I DON'T DO THAT, I HOPE AT SOME POINT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF IT WAS A TREMENDOUS GESTURE OF GOOD WILL, COMMISSIONER, ON YOUR PART, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.  AND I HOPE AT SOME POINT -- IT'S A LONG DAY, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY RESOLUTIONS OF THE DAY, BY THE WAY.  BUT HEY, THIS BUDGET IS REALLY THE STATEMENT ABOUT WHAT WE BELIEVE IN.  THIS IS THE MORALE DOCUMENT.  SO ALL THAT HOLY ROLLING AND IMAN AND RABBI AND EVERYBODY ELSE.  THIS IS THE MORALE STATEMENT.  WE HAVE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION DOES THE LAW PERMIT PEOPLE TO COME AND VOTE FOR WHAT THEY WANT FOR AND NOT VOTE FOR THE OTHER PART?  DO YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP AT ALL?  MAYBE IT'S OLD-SCHOOL.  YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED -- I THINK IT'S YOUR PRESS CONFERENCE, COMMISSIONER, A LONG TIME AGO I WAS FINANCE CHAIR WITH 16 REPUBLICANS AND 15 DEMOCRATS.  BUDGET PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.  I DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING I WANTED.  BUT YOU KNOW, WE ALL SHOWED UP.  AND WE FIGURED OUT HOW TO MAKE IT WORK. THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE THAT VOTED AGAINST A LOT OF STUFF. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAD A QUORUM.  PEOPLE HAD TO VOTE ON THE BUDGET.  THEY FOUGHT 
          [01:50:04]
ALONG THE WAY, BUT AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION. 
          I'M RELUCTANT EVEN FOR HEALTHCARE AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS, PUT THAT ON THE TABLE UNLESS AT SOME POINT AT THE END OF THE DAY, PEOPLE LAY THEIR CARDS OUT. THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE DURING THIS PANDEMIC -- I KNOW IT'S TOUGH.  BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE, I SAW IN BIG CARS IN FOOD LINES, WHO NEVER THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE THERE.  I WANT TO BET SOME PEOPLE SHOW UP AT HARRIS HEALTH WHO NEVER THOUGHT THEY'D BE THERE.  LET'S SAVE 
          THAT DISCUSSION FOR AFTER. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS A NOTE.  I REQUEST AFTER COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ASKS HIS QUESTION, WE BREAK AND ZOOM OVER TO THE DISTRICT CLERK, BECAUSE THEY'RE WAITING FOR ALL OF US.  AND THEN, WE COME BACK AND RESUME THE DISCUSSION.  I ASK DR. PORSA AND BRACEY, I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR US AND YOUR OPERATION.  IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU RETURN WITH US FOR THE REST OF THIS DISCUSSION.  AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, TO YOUR POINT, IN THE DISCUSSION WE'VE HAD LOOKING AT THE AGENDA, WE NEED TO AGREE ON ONE PROPOSED SET OF -- ONE TAX RATE.  ONE PROPOSAL IN ORDER TO POST.  IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING ALL THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE LAW.  SO WHEN WE RETURN, THAT WILL BE -- WE WILL HEAR FROM THOSE SPEAKERS AND HAVE MORE DISCUSSION. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  QUICKLY, MR. BARRY, IT'S INTERESTING.  I DON'T THINK IT'S OBVIOUS TO EVERYBODY.  THE DEBT SERVICE RATE IS THE SAME ON EVERY ONE OF THESE OPTIONS.  IS THAT CORRECT? 
          >>  THAT'S CORRECT. >> COMMISSIONER:  AND THAT MEANS THAT'S A RATE TO SERVICE THE DEBT, IS THAT RIGHT? 
          >>  THAT'S CORRECT. >> COMMISSIONER:  OKAY.  I WANT TO BE CLEAR.  WE HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT KEEPING UP SERVICES AND DEBT.  AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.  THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT.  THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY, LOOKING AT AND TALKING WITH DR. PORSA AND WHAT IS PLANNED, THE GREAT NEWS FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT IT HAS GREAT BONDING CAPACITY THAT ALLOWS EVERYBODY TO PARTICIPATE AT SOME POINT IN A BOND ISSUE RELATED TO IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED. 
          BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, THERE'S GREAT BONDING CAPACITY, I THINK 
          IN THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT. >>  I'D AGREE THE HOSPITAL HAS THE STRONG ABILITY TO ISSUE THAT. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  THANK YOU. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU. 
          WE HAVE MORE DISCUSSION AND SPEAKERS.  WE NEED TO BREAK FOR JUST A BIT TO GO TO THE BUILDING.  SO IT'S 3:36.  LET'S BREAK UNTIL 4:30.  AND WE'LL CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION THEN. 
          THANK YOU. >> SNOOTS 
          . >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  IT'S 4:32 P.M. AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.  THANK YOU.  LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE SPEAKERS.  WE'RE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING OF THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT. 
          >>  CAN YOU GIVE US A FEW MINUTES?  WE'RE TRYING TO REACH 
          THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  OKAY.  IS THERE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION, ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, DR. PORSA OR DR. BRACEY?  I GOT A MESSAGE FROM DR. CLOTMAN HE WAS TRYING TO CONNECT.  I'M NOT SURE IF ANYBODY GOT HIS REMARKS.  IS 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO, I GOT THE LETTER HE SENT TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT I'M HAPPY TO READ IT. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  OH, SURE. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. 
          >>  OKAY.  WONDERFUL.  THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.  I PROMISE NOT TO AD LIB.  THIS IS REALLY WHAT HE WROTE.  THIS IS IN LIEU OF A PUBLIC ORAL STATEMENT I'M WRITING TODAY TO UNDERSCORE MY SUPPORT OF HARRIS HEALTH AND THE TAX RATE RECOMMENDED BY DR. PORSA, THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM AND THE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE SHARE A MISSION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AND BOTH INSTITUTIONS LIVE THE MISSION IN EVERYTHING WE DO CARING FOR THE UNDERSERVED, WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COUNTY. 
          IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT HOSPITAL AFFILIATES IN FULFILLING THE MISSION OF EDUCATING FUTURE PHYSICIANS AND CARING FOR CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY AS A SAFETY NET HOSPITAL. 
          IT CARES FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO CARE FOR THEIR MEDICAL NEEDS.  THE BAYLOR FACULTY VIEW OUR ROLE CARING FOR THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EXPERIENCES IN THEIR CAREERS.  AND STUDENTS CONSISTENTLY RANK THEIR EXPERIENCE THERE AS ONE OF THE BEST.  THIS IN TURN ATTRACTS MANY TO CONTINUE THEIR CAREERS AS PHYSICIANS IN THE COUNTY AND 
          [01:55:03]
MANY CHOOSE TO JOIN THE STAFF. WITH THE STRONG AFFILIATION WITH THE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, IT'S CONSIDERED ONE OF THE LEADING SAFETY NET HOSPITALS IN THE NATION IN EXPERTISE AND LEVEL 1 TRAUMA, CARDIAC INTERVENTION AND STROKE.  THE CHALLENGE FOR THE HOSPITAL IS ALMOST ALWAYS FINANCIAL.  AND REDUCTIONS IN SUPPORT NOW, WOULD BE VERY DISRUPTIVE, PARTICULARLY IN THE MIDDLE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. OUR HEALTHCARE TEAMS OF PHYSICIANS AND NURSES HAVE BORNE THE BRUNT OF CARING FOR PATIENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC.  THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY THE LEADERS OF HARRIS COUNTY IN PROVIDING CARE FOR ALL THOSE WHO COME TO THEIR BOOR.  THAT'S FROM DR. CLOTMAN, PRESIDENT AND 
          [Appearances before court (Part 2 of 2)]
          C.E.O. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU. 
          >>  YES, MA'AM. >>  JUDGE, WE HAVE A SPEAKER. 
          AND WE WERE UNABLE TO REACH THE DOCTOR, SO THANK YOU DR. PORSA READING THAT.  NEXT IS SPEAKER 8 WILAMINA ROBINSON.  GO AHEAD, 
          PLEASE. >>  YES, YES.  THIS IS BETH ROBERTS AT THE COLINS FOUNDATION.  I WANT TO SUPPORT WHOLEHEARTEDLY THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM.  WE INVEST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN HOUSTON'S COMMUNITY HEALTH EACH YEAR.  HARRIS HEALTH IS THE MAIN SAFETY NET FOR UNDERSERVED AND TRULY DOES AN INCREDIBLE JOB WITH THE LIMITED RESOURCES IT HAS.  AND LET ME JUST DIVERGE FROM WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.  YOU ALL HAVE BEEN TALKING A LOT IN THE PAST SESSION ABOUT THE MONEY.  LET ME PUT IT IN PEOPLE TERMS.  BECAUSE THIS IS MY UNDERSTANDING.  SO WE'VE HAD APPROXIMATELY 1 MILLION PEOPLE THAT HAVE LITTLE OR NO INSURANCE. AND I THINK I'M BEING EXTREMELY CONSERVATIVE.  I'M SURE DR. PORSA AND OTHERS CAN GIVE YOU MORE.  HIS HOSPITALS AND HIS CLINICS CAN REALLY ONLY TAKE CARE FOR 400,000.  AND I'M BEING GENEROUS HERE.  THOSE PEOPLE GET AN INCREDIBLE VALUE FOR WHAT THEY DO.  AND AGAIN, INCREDIBLE HEALTHCARE.  THIS HOSPITAL SYSTEM NEEDS MORE MONEY, NOT LESS MONEY.  AND WE REALLY AS FUNDERS ON THE PHILANTHROPIC SIDE, WE REALLY NEED THE COUNTY TO DO ITS PART IN THE FUNDING. 
          PLEASE, PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND VOTE FOR THE TAX INCREASE AS HIGH AS IT CAN GO, BECAUSE WE NEED EVERY BIT OF IT. 
          ANYWAY, GOD BLESS YOU.  AND PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING. 
          THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER:  JUDGE, A QUICK QUESTION.  DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA HOW MUCH THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY PUTS INTO CHARITY HEALTHCARE? 
          >>  OH, GOSH, I DON'T KNOW.  I DON'T KNOW.  WE CAN GET THAT. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  IT'S A BROAD QUESTION. 
          >>  THAT IS A GOOD THING.  WE DON'T HAVE -- IT'S ALL THE MONEY THAT ALL THE BILL GATES IN THE WORLD CANNOT DO THIS, BECAUSE EVERY YEAR WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER THING.  IF WE HAD GOTTEN THE MEDICARE-MEDICAID EXPANSION, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SO HELPFUL.  WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ENDLESSLY.  AND TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE OUR OTHER JUDGE.  OUR JUDGE LINA IS HERE. 
          WE REALLY COULD HAVE USED THAT. THE OTHER HOSPITALS THAT ARE NOT FULLY WORKING ON THE SAFETY NET, THEY REALLY -- THIS IS JUST -- YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A TERRIBLE THING THAT WE DIDN'T GET. 
          ANYWAY, WE DIDN'T GET IT.  SO WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN. 
          AND WE'RE BEING CREATIVE.  AND DR. PORSA, GOD BLESS HIM, IS ONE OF THE MOST CREATIVE FUNDS WE'VE SEEN. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  WE APPRECIATE YOU. 
          >>  PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER:  WE APPRECIATE THE MONEY YOU PUT IN, YOUR FAMILY HAS PUT IN ON PROJECTS. 
          WHAT IMPACT DOES IT HAVE ON THE ABILITY TO GO OUT AND ASK FOR MONEY FOR US?  YOU DO A LOT OF THAT WHEN THE COUNTY IS 
          RELUCTANT. >>  I PROMISE IF YOU GAVE MORE MONEY, WE WOULD NOT GIVE LESS MONEY.  OKAY.  I PROMISE WE WOULD NOT DO THAT.  WE NEED A THIRD HOSPITAL THAT THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.  WE NEED THE CAPACITY FOR THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM TO GROW INTO SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND DO IT IN CREATIVE, CLEVER WAY THAT BOTH BAYLOR AND UT HEALTH ARE PROVIDING DOCTORS. IT PROVIDES A SERVICE TO THE INCREDIBLE MEDICAL PEOPLE YOU'RE TEACHING THERE, TOO.  IT'S GOING TO BEN TOP OR LBJ, IT'S GREAT CARE YOU'RE GETTING THERE.  AND 
          [02:00:03]
I KNOW PEOPLE YOU KNOW AND MY FRIENDS AND STUFF HAVE BEEN THERE.  AND IT'S AMAZING WHAT THEY DO.  BUT WE JUST NEED MORE OF IT.  SO I'M JUST -- AND THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.  ANYWAY, BUT I THANK YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  THANK YOU. >>  ANYWAY, GOD BLESS Y'ALL. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT TO DO.  THANK YOU FOR HOLDING ON THE LINE AND TESTIFYING. 
          >>  THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US. AND I CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT THIS. 
          AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU ALL AGAIN, EACH ONE OF YOU. 
          SO GOOD THINGS. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU SO 
          MUCH. >>  NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER TEN, 
          COLIN GOSSLEMAN.  GO AHEAD. >>  HELLO.  CAN YOU HEAR ME? 
          >>  YES.  GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >>  HELLO?  OKAY.  GREAT.  THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, FOR OUR SERVICE AND FOR TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY.  I'M COLLEEN, CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE COLLINS TRUST FOR HEALTHCARE, AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ONLY GIVING MONEY TO HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS FROM THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA.  AS A MEMBER OF THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY, I URGE THE COURT TO APPROVE THE VOTER-APPROVED TAX RATE TO FUND HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT.  WHEN FUNDS ARE TAKEN AWAY FROM HARRIS HEALTH, ALL OF US SUFFER.  NOT ONLY THOSE THAT RELY ON THE DISTRICT FOR CARE, BUT ALSO THOSE THAT WORK FOR HARRIS HEALTH, AND THOSE THAT WORK FOR THE PRIVATE HOSPITALS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT PICK UP THE SLACK WHEN HARRIS HEALTH CAN'T MEET THE NEEDS.  AS WELL AS THE FIREFIGHTERS AND THE EMS WORKERS AND MEMBERS OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.  THEY RESPOND TO HEALTH CRISES.  MANY OF WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN AVERTED IF PATIENTS HAVE ACCESS TO PREVENTIVE CARE.  AND HONESTLY, ALL OF US SUFFER THAT LIVE AND WORK AMONG THOSE THAT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO CARE.  BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF FUNDING.  BUT BY NOT FUNDING THE VOTER-APPROVED TAX RATE, YOU'RE PASSING ON THE COST TO OTHERS.  PHILANTHROPY INVESTS MILLIONS.  I'M NOT SURE OF THE EXACT NUMBER.  I WOULD SAY WE'RE TALKING TENS OF MILLIONS OR MAYBE HUNDRED OF MILLIONS, IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WHETHER IT'S PRIVATE HOSPITALS, HARRIS HEALTH, COMMUNITY CLINICS, INTO THE SYSTEM.  BECAUSE IT SAVES LIVES.  AND IT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY SAFER, MORE SUSTAINABLE, AND PRODUCTIVE. AND IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. 
          AND WE EXPECT THE PUBLIC SECTOR, PARTICULARLY THE COUNTY TO DO ITS PART.  THE PRIVATE SECTOR CANNOT DO IT ALONE AS MISS ROBERTSON NOTED.  ESPECIALLY DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC IN A COUNTY WITH ONE OF THE HIGHEST UNINSURED RATES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.  HARRIS HEALTH PROVIDES EXCELLENT CARE.  AND HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS DESERVE TO HAVE A FULLY FUNDED HOSPITAL DISTRICT.  THE HEALTH OF THE COUNTY AND OUR ECONOMY DEPENDS ON IT.  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TODAY. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >>  NEXT IS NUMBER 11 FREDDIE WARNER OF MEMORIAL HEALTH 
          SYSTEM.  GO AHEAD. >>  THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER, MY NAME IS FREDDIE WARNER.  I'M COMMENDING ON BEHALF OF MEMMEMORIAL HERMAN HEALTH SYSTEM.  I SERVE AS THE CHIEF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS OFFICER.  WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED HARRIS COUNTY TAX RATE ON THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT ON HARRIS HEALTH.  WHILE THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT HAS RECOMMENDED A TAX RATE OF APPROXIMATELY $0.17 PER $100 OF VALUATION, WE UNDERSTAND AN OPTION THAT THE COURT IS CONSIDERING WOULD RESULT IN A SMALLER TAX RATE OF APPROXIMATELY $0.16 PER $100 OF VALUATION OR WHAT WOULD AMOUNT TO 4.2% REDUCTION AND A REDUCTION OF APPROXIMATELY $36 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FOR HARRIS HEALTH AND THE PATIENTS IT SERVES. MEMORIAL HERMAN STRONGLY URGES COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ADOPT THE HIGHER TAX RATE PROPOSED BY THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT.  WE'RE THE LARGEST HEALTH SYSTEM SERVING SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND ONE AMONG A NUMBER OF PRIVATE HEALTH SYSTEMS SERVING HARRIS COUNTY@GREATER HOUSTON REGION.  OUR SYSTEM IS PERENNIALLY THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF HEALTHCARE TO THE GROWING UNINSURED AND MEDICAID IN THE REGION AND PROVIDERS SUCH AS ACA, TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, CHI ST. LUKE'S, WE UNDER PIN THE SAFETY NET.  WE OPERATE THE BUSIEST TRAUMA CENTER IN THE AREA, THE BUSIEST IN THE COUNTRY AND LIFE FLIGHT.  WE'VE GOT GRAVE CONCERNS ANY REDUCTION IN THE TAX RATE THAT WOULD RESULT IN REDUCED REVENUE FOR HARRIS HEALTH WILL ALSO RESULT IN A 
          [02:05:01]
SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN A RANGE OF VITAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY.  IT WILL ALSO HAVE THE UNFORTUNATE OFF-SETTING IMPACT OF PLACING AN INCREASED BURDEN ON AN OVERWHELMED HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SAFETY NET WHICH REMAIN INS THE THROES OF MORE THAN 18 MONTHS OF RESPONSE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC AS WELL AS THE CURRENTLY STRESSED RESOURCES OF THE OTHER HEALTH SYSTEMS SERVING THE REGION.  WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT AS THE OTHER HOSPITAL SYSTEMS IN THE REGION HAVE HARRIS COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING SOME SUPPLEMENTAL STAFFING FOR THE NURSES IN OUR AND OTHER SYSTEMS IN THE REGION. 
          BUT WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE THE TIME FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT TO CONSIDER THE BUDGET OF THE DISTRICT IN ISOLATION WITHOUT ALSO CONSIDERING THE REDUCTION IN CRITICAL SERVICES THAT ARE CERTAIN TO RESULT FROM THE TAX RATE CUT AND THE OFF-SETTING NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE OTHER HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS THAT ROUTINELY SUPPORT THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT IN PROVIDING HEALTHCARE FOR THE REGION.  I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE COMMENTS ON BEHALF OF OUR SYSTEM.  I'D BE HAPPY TO RESPOND QUESTIONS THAT THE JUDGE ARE OR 
          COMMISSIONERS MAY HAVE. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU. 
          YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> COMMISSIONER:  HEY, FREDDIE, THIS IS COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK OVER THERE.  BUT I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE.  AND THE REALITY OF IT IS IS THAT A HEALTHY COMMUNITY IS A STRONG ECONOMY. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU GUYS 
          ARE OUT THERE DOING. >>  COMMISSIONER, APPRECIATE YOUR HELP VERY MUCH.  WE BELIEVE THE SAFETY NET SURVIVORS WHEN IT WORKS WELL TOGETHER.  WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A RELIABLE FUNDING UNDERPINNING FOR THE SAFETY NET. AND ANY CUTS FOR THE DISTRICT WILL HAVE NEGATIVE OFF-SETTING CUTS ON SERVICES AND ALL THE OTHER PROVIDERS THAT SUPPORT THE DISTRICT AND SUPPORT THE SAFETY NET.  THANKS THAT YOU ALL DO FOR US. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  THANK YOU. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU. 
          >>  NEXT SPEAKER IS NUMBER 14 RICHARD TORRES OF KRISTA'S 
          FOUNDATION OF HEALTH.  GO AHEAD. >>  GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.  GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS RICHARD TORRES, PRESIDENT OF THE KRISTA'S FOUNDATION OF HEALTHCARE.  I'M SPEAKING TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE FOUNDATION OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES MORE THAN $16 MILLION A YEAR IN CHARITY CARE TO APPROXIMATELY 8,000 PATIENTS THAT ORDINARILY WOULD NOT QUALIFY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH. BUT WE DEFINITELY FEEL THE IMPACT WHEN FUNDS ARE CUT OR WHEN SERVICES ARE IMPACTED BECAUSE OF REDUCTION IN FUNDS AVAILABLE.  WE SEE PROBABLY EVERY WEEK AT LEAST TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK, WE SEE PATIENTS WHO ARE PART OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THROUGH HARRIS HEALTH THAT HAVE A GOLD CARD.  BUT THEY COME TO US, BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD THE COPAY.  SO THAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A NUMBER THAT INCREASES.  AND EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY SAY TWO PEOPLE A WEEK IS NOT A LOT, IT IS FOR US.  AND THEY DON'T COME WITH EXTRA FUNDING.  WE HAVE TO RAISE THAT FUNDING.  WE HAVE TO ASK OUR FOUNDATION PARTNERS SUCH AS THE COLLINS FOUNDATION FOR HEALTHCARE AND OTHERS TO HELP US IN SHOULDERING THAT COST.  WE DO OUR SERVICES FOR AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT $34 PER PATIENT.  IT'S NOT VERY SOPHISTICATED MEDICAL SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING. 
          BUT IT'S ESSENTIAL.  AND BELIEVE ME, WHEN YOU SEE A PATIENT THAT COMES IN REALLY IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE, AND AFTER A FEW VISITS THEY'RE BACK TO HEALTH AND THEY'RE BACK WORKING, IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  AND SO I ASK THAT AS YOU CONSIDER THIS, I'M STILL HAVING A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING WHY WE'RE GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF WHERE WE NEED TO BE GOING, WHICH IS IN INCREASING FUNDING RATHER THAN TRYING TO BACK-STOP THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS GOING TO BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HARRIS HEALTH. 
          HARRIS HEALTH IS A GREAT INSTITUTION THAT REALLY I THINK DOES INCREDIBLE WORK.  THEY DON'T GET THE CREDIT THAT THEY DESERVE.  I THINK FROM THOSE OF US IN THE HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY, WE RECOGNIZE THEIR VALUE.  BUT I WISH THAT WE COULD REALLY KIND OF SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY DO. 
          THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THEY DO FOR EVERYBODY.  IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE INDIGENT.  AND FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE INSURANCE.  THERE ARE MANY, MANY RESIDENTS THAT DEPEND ON SERVICES PROVIDED BY HARRIS HEALTH.  AND WITHOUT HARRIS HEALTH, THEY WOULD BECOME TO OTHER ENTITIES LIKE OURSELVES THAT DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THESE RESIDENTS.  WE'RE A FAITH-BASED INSTITUTION THAT'S BEEN AROUND 
          [02:10:02]
140 YEARS.  WE STARTED OUT AS THE OLD ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL AND NOW THE KRISTA'S FOUNDATION FOR HEALTHCARE.  WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING THIS SERVICE SINCE 1880.  WE ASK YOU TO HELP -- 
          >> THAT'S YOUR TIME.  HELLO, SIR. 
          >>  THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> COMMISSIONER:  THANK YOU. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >>  NEXT IS NUMBER 16, SYDNEY CARTER.  GO AHEAD, PLEASE. 
          >>  HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNTY JUDGE, AND COMMISSIONERS. 
          I'M SYDNEY CARTER, THE MENTAL HEALTH POLICY FELLOW AT THE NETWORK OF MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS OF HOUSTON, A COLLABORATIVE OF PUBLIC AND KNOT PROFIT FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROVIDERS.  OUR MISSION IS IMPROVE DELIVERY OF AND ACCESS OF HIGH QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH COLLABORATION AND ADVOCATION. AND EDUCATION.  OUR MEMBERS EMPLOY 5,000 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND SERVE 250,000 CHILDREN AND ADULTS EACH YEAR. WE'RE KEENLY AWARE OF THE GREAT NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES.  HARRIS HEALTH IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SAFETY NET.  THAT'S WHY WE SUPPORT THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 0.16671 PER $100 AND OPPOSED TO PROPOSALS REDUCING FUNDING FOR HARRIS HEALTH.  THERE ARE 1 IN 5 OR 950,000 PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS LIVING IN HARRIS COUNTY.  WHILE CLOSE TO 300,000 RESIDENTS OVER 12 HAVE A SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER.  WHEN UNTREATED, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISORDERS WREAK HAVOC ON COMMUNITIES, INCREASES HOMELESSNESS, EMERGENCY UTILIZATION, INCARCERATION AND SUICIDE.  COVID-19 HAS EXACERBATED THESE ISSUES WITH OVER 40% OF ADULTS REPORTING DEPRESSION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR TRAUMA-RELATED ISSUES DURING THE PANDEMIC, INCLUDING 10% REPORTING SUICIDAL EYEDATION. 
          ACCESS TO SERVICES IS IMPORTANT. HARRIS HEALTH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST CRITICAL PROVIDERS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT SERVICE ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY, PARTICULARLY TO VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, THOSE UNDERINSURED AND UNINSURED.  THIS NEED WILL GROW AS COVID-19 CONTINUES TO IMPACT COMMUNITIES.  THAT'S WHY THE NETWORK OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS FULLY SUPPORTS THE PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR HARRIS HEALTH AND ASK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU. 
          >>  NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 21, KEITH SUAREZ.  GO AHEAD, PLEASE. 
          GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >>  OKAY.  SO I WANTED TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS, I GUESS QUESTIONS ABOUT ITEM 21.  MY FIRST QUESTION IS ABOUT THE BUDGET FOR THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM.  THE I NOTICE IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CHOICE.  AND THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT FOUNDATION.  I WAS WONDERING THE REASON FOR THAT.  I WAS WANTING TO KNOW DETAILS HOW THE BUDGET FOR THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM IS SPENT.  ALSO, I WAS READING THROUGH THE PDF DOCUMENT.  IT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT VOTER APPROVAL RATE.  I WAS WONDERING IF YOU ALL CAN GIVE US AN EXPLANATION WHAT THAT EXACTLY IS. 
          AND I NOTICE ALSO ABOUT AS YOU MENTIONED, WHAT WOULD LEAD TO AN ELECTION TO CHANGE THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE.  SO I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT A LITTLE BIT AS WELL.  I GUESS MY LAST QUESTION IS:  HOW A NO REVENUE RATE WILL ACTUALLY BRING LESS REVENUE TO A COUNTY.  THE I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THAT.  THAT'S IT. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU. >>  NEXT IS SPEAKER NUMBER 19, 
          RAFAEL SIRANDA. >>  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU. MY NAME IS RAFAEL, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTCENTER FOR URBAN TRANSFORMATION.  I SIMPLY WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THERE IS FULL EXPECTATION OF FUNDING HARRIS HEALTH.  IN MY EXPERIENCE OF WORKING WITH MANY DECADES WITH THE HOMELESS POPULATION, ESPECIALLY YOUTH, AND THEIR 
          [02:15:01]
FAMILIES OF CHOICE.  I NOW AM WORKING WITH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THE FIFTH WARD, MOSTLY BIPOC POPULATION.  WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE IMMENSE EFFECT THAT HARRIS HEALTH HAS NOT ONLY ON THE OTHER HEALTH PARTNERS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO COMMUNITY IN THE FIFTH WARD, BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.  SO FULLY FUNDING HARRIS HEALTH MEANS THAT OUR YOUTH WILL BE AVAILABLE TO HAVE SERVICES FOR THEM THAT IS ESSENTIAL.  THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FIND ANOTHER RESOURCE IN THE COMMUNITY.  BUT ALSO TO THEIR FAMILIES.  AND THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF COMMUNITY THAT HAVE DIFFICULTY IN ACCESSING EQUITABLE HEALTH SERVICES, NOT ONLY FOR PHYSICAL INTERVENTIONS, BUT ALSO IN THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. 
          SO WE AS A PHYSICIAN IN THE PE PERSONAL MATTER, I THINK FUNDING HARRIS HEALTH IS ESSENTIAL NOT ONLY FOR THE PHYSICAL WELLBEING BUT ALSO FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH PREVENTION AND WELLBEING OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.  SO I SIMPLY WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU HEAR MY VOICE IN REPRESENTATION OF THE VOICELESS OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE ONES WHO DO NOT HAVE RIGHT NOW THOSE BASIC NEEDS.  AND DO NOT HAVE EQUITY IN ACCESS TO HEALTH. 
          AND DO NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND IN FRONT OF YOU AND MAYBE HAVE THE WORDS TO EXPRESS THOSE NEEDS THAT ARE TRULY UNDERLYING HERE, THE WORD LIFESAVING.  SO AGAIN, I REPRESENT THE THE CENTER FOR TRANSFORMATION.  MANY OF THE PARTNERS THAT WORK AROUND THE HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION FOR THE YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES WITHIN THE FIFTH WARD.  I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. AGAIN, I LOVE TO HEAR MORE ON THAT IN REGARD TO THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TOWARDS FUNDING HARRIS HEALTH.  THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK IN 
          FRONT OF YOU. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU. 
          >>  NEXT IS MARISSA JACOBS OF AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.  GO 
          AHEAD, PLEASE. >>  THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TODAY.  MY NAME IS LARISSA JACOBS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE HEALTH STAT GSTRATEGIES F THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION. COMMITTED TO REDUCING CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND IMPROVING HEALTH OF AMERICANS, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT HEALTHY LIVING, FOSTER IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDIAC AND STROKE CARE AND FIGHTING FOR STRONG PUBLIC HEALTH POLICIES AND THE PROPOSALS UNDER CONSIDERATION MEANS A LOSS OF FUNDING FOR AS MUCH OF $30 MILLION FOR HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH HOSPITAL DISTRICT WOULD MEAN A LOT.  VITAL FUNDING FOR OUR PILLARS, SAFETY NET FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THEIR HEALTH.  THESE ARE THE PEOPLE, THE INDIGENT MOST IN NEED DURING A PANDEMIC THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE TO REMIND YOU ALL IS STILL ONGOING.  IT'S REALLY -- THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM IS MEETING THE NEEDS OF SO MANY PEOPLE THAT OTHERWISE IF THEY TAKE A HIT LIKE THIS, THAT THOSE RAMIFICATIONS WILL BE FELT BY OTHER HEALTH SYSTEM PARTNERS. 
          JUST TO ECHO WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER ON THE CALL, WE ARE TRULY IN IT TOGETHER.  THE AHA IS ALL ABOUT HEALTH EQUITY, WE COULDN'T BE IN AN EQUITABLE WORLD WHEN WE SEE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AS A HOSPITAL DISTRICT TAKING THIS KIND OF REVENUE LOSS.  WE REALLY WANT EQUITABLE HEALTH, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE REVENUE BE CONSISTENT AND NOT PULL AWAY FROM THE SAFETY NET SYSTEM THAT'S REALLY TAKING CARE OF ALL COMMUNITIES EVERYWHERE.  WE JUST REALLY APPRECIATE HAVING A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON JUST THE VITALLY IMPORTANT WORK THAT HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM HAS BEEN DOING THROUGH PROGRAMS ADDRESSING CHRONIC DISEASE, MANY PROGRAMS FOR PREVENTION OF DISEASE, MANY PROGRAMS TO TAKE A LOOK AT NUTRITION AND HOW OUR PATIENTS AND ALL THE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES THAT ARE MAKING THEM HEALTHIER, BEFORE THEY GET TO THE HOSPITAL.  SO I THINK A PULL-BACK LIKE THIS WOULD BE GOING ABSOLUTELY IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.  COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED, PARTICULARLY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. 
          [02:20:02]
MANY SERVED BY THE SAFETY NET SYSTEM.  HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY COVID-19.  TO PULL BACK ON FUNDING WOULD ABSOLUTELY GO IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.  WE APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO WEIGH IN ON THAT AND MAKE OUR STATEMENT TODAY.  SO YOU KNOW, WE HOPE THAT HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM IS FULLY FUNDED TO CONTINUE ITS IMPORTANT WORK. 
          THAT'S OUR STATEMENT FROM THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION. 
          THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER:  THANK YOU. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK AND CALLING 
          IN. >>  JUDGE, THOSE ARE ALL THE 
          SPEAKERS WE WERE ABLE TO REACH. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  OKAY.  THANK 
          [Departments (Part 3 of 3)]
YOU.  SO WE NEED TO SELECT ONE SET OF RATES TO PROPOSAL AND TO VOTE ON AT SOME POINT.  SO THE QUESTION IS:  WHAT WILL THOSE SET OF RATES BE?  COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS MADE A PROPOSAL THAT HAS -- THAT SHARES THE HARRIS COUNTY RATE -- 
          >> JUDGE, I'M SORRY.  ARE YOU GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC 
          HEARING FIRST? >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  YES.  THANK YOU.  ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT TAX RATE?  OKAY.  IN THAT CASE, THIS PUBLIC HEARING 
          IS NOW CLOSED. >>  JUDGE, SO THAT WE HAVE A BRACKET, I WOULD BE URGED THE PRIOR MOTION THAT I THINK WE ADOPTED WHICH WAS IF ANYBODY TESTIFIED ON ANY ISSUE IN ANY OTHER AREA THAT WE INCORPORATE BY REFERENCE THEIR TESTIMONY INTO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT RATES THAT WERE THERE. 
          WE HAVE ALREADY MOVED THAT AND PASSED THAT.  I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO VOTE AGAIN.  I WANT TO MAKE SURE AT THIS STAGE THAT THEY KNEW THEIR TESTIMONY WAS HEARD AND EITHER PUT INTO EACH OF THE DIFFERING DISCUSSIONS FOR ALL OF THE ITEMS. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  YES. WE PASSED THAT MOTION ALREADY. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  JUDGE, LET ME START THE DISCUSSION AND I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR HIS PROPOSAL.  THE AND YOU KNOW, THESE ARE PRECARIOUS TIMES.  WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY WHO HAVE DIED DURING THIS PANDEMIC.  THAT IS NOT LOST ON ME.  MUCH I WALK INTO THIS ROLE AS COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 2 RECOGNIZING THAT WE LOST THE ONLY HEALTHCARE CAPACITY IN THE PRECINCT DURING HURRICANE HARVEY, WHICH WASN'T EVEN REAL HOSPITAL DISTRICT CAPACITY.  IT WAS A CONTRACT WE HAD WITH HCA.  THE HEALTHCARE DISPARITY STUDY THAT WE DID IDENTIFIED THAT I HAVE THE HIGHEST MORTALITY RATE.  I HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE.  I HAVE THE HIGHEST RATES OF CANCER AND DIABETES. 
          AND ACUTE ASTHMA.  AND SO PUBLIC HEALTH FOR MY CONSTITUENTS IS IMPORTANT.  AND IT'S A REAL ENDEAVOR FOR ME AS WELL.  YOU KNOW, AS I TELL PEOPLE, BEING A PUBLIC HEALTHCARE BABY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.  SECONDLY, THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE OF THE COUNTY -- FIVE COUNTIES, AND SO WHAT FLOOD MITIGATION IS REAL TO ME, JUST AS EQUAL TO ME AS HEALTHCARE. NO DAYLIGHT BETWEEN EITHER ONE OF THEM.  THE FLOOD DAMAGE THAT HAS OCCURRED, COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT WHAT WE ONLY HAD THE BCI, THE BENEFBENEFIT COST INDE THERE WAS LESS WORK BEING DONE IN THE PRECINCT THAN BEFORE.  -- OR THAN NOW.  AND SO MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP PRECINCT 2 FAMILIES FROM FLOODING, BUSINESSES FROM FLOODING, KEEPING INDUSTRY STRONG, WIDENING THE PORT, KEEPING TRADE AND ITS ABILITY TO MOVE, IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO ME.  AS I TELL PEOPLE, HAVING WORKED HARD MOST OF MY LIFE, I HAVE AN APPRECIATION FOR GUYS ON 
          [02:25:06]
TRUCKS, GALS ON TRUCKS, GALS AND GUYS AT THE PORT, PEOPLE DOING CONSTRUCTION WORK, PEOPLE PUSHING SHOVELS.  I HAVE A PHENOMENAL APPRECIATION FOR THOSE FOLKS.  AND SO -- AND I HAVE AN APPRECIATION FOR YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES, THE ENGINEERS THAT WE CALL ON TO HELP BRING SOLUTIONS TO OUR COUNTY FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE OF OUR TOPOGRAPHY.  BUT I UNDERSTAND YOUR MOTION.  AND I, YOU KNOW -- AFTER HEARING DR. PORSA AND HIS COLLEAGUES AND AFTER HEARING FROM SO MANY PEOPLE, IT'S INCREDIBLE THE LOSS OF OFFICER JEFFREY YESTERDAY IS WHAT I CALL OF ONE OF MY ONE DEGREES OF SEPARATION.  IN THIS PANDEMIC, I'M JUST BLOWN AWAY HOW MANY PEOPLE SO CLOSE TO ME LOST THEIR LIVES, SPECIFICALLY DUE TO COVID-19. 
          AND SO I WANT TO WORK WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.  WE NEED YOU AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE TO BE HERE SO THAT WE DON'T DEVASTATE OUR FLOOD BOND PROJECTS.  SO THAT WE CAN KEEP WORK GOING.  SO THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR ROADWAYS IN BETTER CONDITION.  BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU HAVE PROPOSED A CUT, AND AFTER HEARING DR. PORSA I AM MORE -- I AM JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THE LONG LASTING RAMIFICATIONS OF YOUR MOTION. AND SO I WANT TO TRY TO FIND SOME MIDDLE GROUND, SOME COMMON GROUND.  THE AND I HAVEN'T DONE THE MATH ON WHAT A COUNTERPROPOSAL WOULD BE.  BUT BEFORE WE START HAGGLING, I GOT TO ASK A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION. 
          AND AS I TELL PEOPLE, HAVING BEEN A POLICEMAN, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR BEFORE I WALK IN IT.  IS THERE -- IF WE CAN WORK TOWARDS A MIDDLE GROUND, ASSUMING YOU'RE STARTING AT ONE POINT, I'M STARTING AT ANOTHER POINT, AND MAYBE THERE'S SOMEWHERE FOR US TO GET TO.  BUT ARE WE JUST GOING TO USE UP OXYGEN OR IS THERE A COMMITMENT FOR YOU TWO GUYS TO SHOW UP?  WILL THERE BE A COMMITMENT?  WE'RE GOING TO SIT HERE AND NEGOTIATE AND COMPROMISE.  IS THERE GOING TO BE A COMMITMENT THAT AT THE END OF THIS DISCUSSION, ARE YOU GOING TO SHOW UP?  BECAUSE -- AND LOOK, WE JUST -- I'M JUST BEING TRANSPARENT HERE.  IF THERE'S NOT, I GET IT.  LET'S JUST CALL IT A DAY AND GO HOME. IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SHOW UP AND IF WE'RE GOING TO PUT A HIT ON FLOOD CONTROL AND WE'RE GOING PUT A HIT ON COUNTY ENGINEERING BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO FUND PUBLIC HEALTH, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO FUND THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM, I GET IT.  I GET IT. BUT I NEED -- BEFORE I WASTE MY TIME AND ENERGY AND THEN WE GO MAYBE ANOTHER TWO HOURS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE PENNIES, WHY DO IT IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SHOW UP?  SO I JUST AM ASKING A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  YOU'RE LOOKING AT ME, SO LET ME ANSWER. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  I'M LOOKING AT BOTH OF YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  I'M GOING TO START.  START WITH ME.  I PUT IT ON THE TABLE IN GOOD FAITH IN TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION.  I PUT THAT ON THERE FOR SOMETHING TO VOTE ON.  WHAT I VOTE FOR, WHAT RATE I VOTE FOR, THAT'S WHAT I'LL BE HERE TO VOTE ON NEXT WEEK.  SO IF I'M GOING TO VOTE ON A RATE TODAY, I VOTE FOR A RATE TODAY, YEAH, I'M GOING TO BE THERE.  I'LL COMMIT TO BE 
          THERE. >> COMMISSIONER:  OKAY. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  BUT I GOT TO FIND THE RATE I VOTE FOR.  I 
          [02:30:01]
STARTED WITH A NUMBER.  THIS IS WHAT WE STARTED WITH. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  SO WITH THAT, LET ME PROPOSE -- 
          >> COMMISSIONER, BEFORE YOU THROW YOUR PROPOSAL OUT THERE, I THINK WE'VE GOT FIVE VOICES HERE.  AND I'VE HEARD COMMISSIONER ELLIS SAY HE'S NOT COMFORTABLE.  YOU'RE NOT SUPER COMFORTABLE WITH THE ELEMENTS. I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH SOME OF THE ELEMENTS OF MR. RAMSEY'S PROPOSAL.  YOU'VE GOT THREE PS. 
          I'VE BEEN LISTENING ALL DAY. I'VE NOT SAID ANYTHING.  FOR THE MOST PART, I MAY HAVE ENGAGED ABOUT ANOTHER COUNTY BUT NOT ABOUT OUR BUSINESS TODAY. AS AN OLD TIMER THAT SAYS WITH MANY WORDS, ERROR OFTEN LIES AT THE DOOR, SO I'LL TRY TO MAKE MY WORDS TO YOU.  I'VE GOT THREE POINTS AND I'LL TELL YOU WHERE THE DISAGREE WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND WHERE I MAY AGREE WITH YOU A SMIDGEN MORE MORE THAN HIM.  THE PRECEDING THREE YEARS, I SEE THE PRESS RELEASES AND HEAR THE COMMENTS HOW WONDERFUL IT'S BEEN THE LAST THREE YEARS AND YOU GUYS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TAX CUTS WE'VE HAD THE LAST THREE YEARS. 
          AND AN ELEMENT OF THAT THAT IS TRUE, BECAUSE THERE WAS A PROPOSAL FOR AN 8% INCREASE. AND WE WALKED.  AND BUT FOR THAT REFUSAL TO COMPROMISE IN 2019, WE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THAT DECREASE.  LAST YEAR WE WORKED OUT AN AGREEMENT.  I WOULD SAY THAT WAS A GOOD MOMENT WHERE WE WORKED OUT AN AGREEMENT.  AND HERE WE ARE TODAY TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN DO WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR.  BUT IN THE MIDST OF THE WHO GETS CREDIT AND WHO DOESN'T GET CREDIT FOR THE FACT WE HAVE POST-PARTY, THAT 2019 ISSUE STILL ON OUR MIND AND NOW POST-PANDEMIC THAT WE HAVE -- 
          (INAUDIBLE) >> COMMISSIONER:  NOT COMPLETELY POST.  BUT IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC, IF I WAS TO MAKE THAT CORRECTION, I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP A PROPER PERSPECTIVE.  WE ARE NOT ONTO USE A WORD FROM A PRESS CONFERENCE I HEARD ON A DIFFERENT MATTER FROM THE JUDGE ONE TIME WHO SAID WE'RE ON THE PRECIPICE OF A CRISIS.  I THOUGHT THERE WAS A POETIC RING TO THAT.  WE'RE NOT ON A PRECIPICE OF A CRISIS WITH REGARD TO THIS BUDGET HEARING. 
          WITH FLOOD CONTROL, WE SPEND SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN $10.5 MILLION ON DIFFERING ISSUES.  DOOR KNOCKERS FOR $11 MILLION.  CARDS FOR PEOPLE TO MOTIVATE THEM TO COME AND GET SHOTS.  I THINK $11 MILLION IS WHAT WAS TRANSMITTED.  SO $10.5 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY TO ME AND A LOT OF MONEY TO THE TAXPAYERS.  BUT IT IS NOT THAT LARGE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE REALLY PASS THROUGH IN TERMS OF OUR BUDGETS.  AND IN FACT, IF WE DIDN'T WORK THIS OUT, YOU WOULD SEE A PROPOSAL FOR US TO REACH IN AND TRY TO FIND HALF OF THAT IN SOME SAVINGS SOMEWHERE AND THEN, I'D BE WILLING TO PUT ON THE OTHER HALF 1/4 PARTICIPATION OF THAT TO MAKE UP THAT FOR FLOOD CONTROL.  BECAUSE FLOOD CONTROL IS SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT.  IF IT DOESN'T KEEP US FROM CONTRIBUTING TO FLOOD CONTROL FROM OUR GENERAL FUNDS. 
          WE'VE HEARD BEAUTIFUL PLEAS WITH REGARDS TO THOSE SPENDING THE TAXPAYER FUNDS.  AND I LOVE THE PHRASE OF COMMISSIONER ELLIS USED EARLIER, WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE DRIVING UP IN HAD CADILLACS GETTING IN THE FREE FOOD OF THE FOOD LINE BECAUSE THEY NEVER THOUGHT THEY'D BE IN THE SPOT. THE FOLKS DRIVING UP GETTING THE FREE FOOD IN THE CADILLACS ALSO HAVE A HOUSE NOTE COMING UP.  A TAX BILL ON THEIR HOMES THAT IS COMING UP.  AND THE DIFFERENTIAL FOR MANY MAY NOT SEEM TO BE MUCH MONEY BUT THEY'RE SCRAPING ALL 
          [02:35:02]
THEY CAN TO HANG IN THERE.  AND WE NEED TO KEEP A TAXPAYER PERSPECTIVE FOR FOLKS WHO THOUGHT THEY HAD IT TOGETHER BUT LOST THEIR JOBS.  THEY'VE BEEN HIT ECONOMICALLY.  THEIR BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED.  THEY'VE BEEN PULLING EVERYTHING TOGETHER. AND I COMMEND HOW WE'VE MADE PROGRESS WITH REGARD TO THE PROPOSALS THAT ARE HERE.  AND WE'RE DISCUSSING THEM.  BUT I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE MORE WHEN WE CONSIDER THE FOLKS WHO ARE TRYING TO HANG IN THERE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE IN.  AND NOT ONLY THAT, WE HAVE THIS ODD, UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE THAT DESPITE THE HIT TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, REAL ESTATE PRICES ARE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF.  THROUGHOUT ALL DEMOGRAPHICS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.  FOLKS ON A FIXED INCOME OR STRESSED INCOME AND LIVING OFF SAVINGS, WHERE LAST YEAR THEY MADE THEIR HOUSE BILL AND TAXES, NEXT YEAR THEIR TAX BILL IS GOING TO GO UP, EVEN IF WE KEEP OUR TAX RATE THE SAME. 
          THEIR APPRAISAL IS GOING TO BUMP THEM UP.  AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S REAL FUN FOR US TO SAY AS TAX SPENDERS, WE'VE NOT INCREASED YOUR RATE BUT GIVEN YOU A TAX BREAK.  WHEN YOU WERE THE TAXPAYER AND LAST YEAR YOU PAID THIS AMOUNT AND THIS YEAR YOU HAVE TO PAY MORE, THEY DON'T DO IT THE SAME WAY THAT WE DO HERE.  THEY VIEW IT AS THEY'RE HAVING TO PAY MORE.  THEY DON'T VIEW IT AS A TAX CUT.  EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T TAX THEM AS MUCH AS WE COULD HAVE UNDER THE LAW.  THEY ARE STILL UNDERNEATH THE PERSPECTIVE OF I'VE HAD TO PAY MORE MONEY.  AT A TIME THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT.  SO HAVING SAID THAT, LET ME TELL YOU WHERE I AM.  AND FOR AN ENGINEER, I THOUGHT HE SAID IT ELOQUENTLY. 
          IF I VOTE FOR A RATE, I'LL BE HERE TO VOTE FOR THAT RATE.  IF I DON'T VOTE FOR A RATE, I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.  IF I VOTE NO DOES NOT MEAN I AM OR NOT GOING TO BE HERE WHEN TIME COMES.  IF I VOTE FOR SOMETHING, THE CREEK DON'T RISE, ET CETERA, I'LL BE HERE IF I VOTE FOR SOMETHING.  I THOUGHT THAT WAS ELOQUENTLY PUT, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.  WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT A NAGGY ENGINEER HAD A GOOD TURN OF THE PHRASE. 
          IF I VOTE FOR SOMETHING, I'LL BE HERE TO SEE IT THROUGH. 
          IF I DON'T VOTE FOR IT TODAY, I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, BUT I WON'T MAKE COMMITMENTS.  ALL RIGHT. 
          SO TO THAT END, VERY SIMILAR, I'M VERY COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT I PROPOSE AND WHAT IS HERE ON THE PLAN, PROPOSAL B FROM OUR LAST MEETING WITH REGARD TO WHAT GOES TO THE COUNTY.  WHAT THAT DOES IS ALLOWS A MARGINAL, SMALL INCREASE INSTEAD OF A HALF PENNY.  IT'S A QUARTER OF A PENNY INCREASE THAT WILL ALLOW US TO INVEST IN -- ALTHOUGH OUR -- IT'S SPECIFIED HOW MUCH IS THE DEBT SERVICE PROVISION, THE DEBT SERVICE RATE IS ALWAYS SPECIFIED AS POINTED OUT EARLIER, BUT IT DOES GIVE US SOME HEAD ROOM, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME VOTER APPROVED BONDS OUT THERE.  OF THE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAY BE BENEFICIAL IS ALLOW FOLKS TO HAVE MORE ROADS TO BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND ON AND CONSTRUCTING ROADS MAY BENEFIT AND HELP OUR LOCAL ECONOMY JUMP STARTING OUR ECONOMY BACK.  I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE HEAD ROOM WITH REGARD TO OUR COUNTY RATE THAT WOULD GIVE US THE ABILITY TO SERVICE AND ISSUE THE BONDS THAT HAVE BEEN OUT THERE THAT WE'VE BEEN HOLDING BACK ON BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DIDN'T GET OUT OF KILTER.  I AM IN AGREEMENT I THINK ALL FIVE OF US HAVE SAID THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.  IN A PERFECT WORLD, CONSTITUENTS WOULD SAY FLOOD CONTROL IS A PRIORITY.  I THINK WE'RE IN AGREEMENT THE RATE PROPOSED BY OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, THE SUPREME BUREAUCRAT IS THE RIGHT RATE TO GO IF WE KEEP IT, SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF THAT.  WITH REGARD TO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, TO ME, IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A COMPLICATED ISSUE.  AND PART OF THE ISSUE IS THE WHEN ISSUE THAT WE DO IT.  IF WE APPROVE ALL 
          [02:40:02]
THAT THEY ASKED IN THEIR APPEAL TODAY, THAT WOULD BE $60 MILLION MORE THIS YEAR.  THAT'S NOT WHAT WAS IN THE SUGGESTION FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR.  BUT THEIR REQUEST IS $60 MILLION MORE. 
          WHAT THAT MEANS, IS THAT THERE WOULD BE $60 MILLION THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR, $60 MILLION PLUS THE NEW $60 MILLION.  AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT, 60 PLUS THE 60 PLUS THE 60 BECAUSE THE BASE STARTS TO MOVE.  EVERY YEAR YOU LOAD IN WHAT IS IN THERE. 
          ALTHOUGH, THERE ARE GREAT PROJECTS THAT NEED TO COME DOWN, I'M NOT OPPOSED ULTIMATELY TO SOME EXPANSION WITH REGARD TO THE NEEDS IN THE SYSTEM.  AND WITH ALL OF THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT THEY HAVE COMING RIGHT NOW, THE EXAMPLE OF A BUSTED MACHINE JUST STIRRED ME ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL, AND I'M GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT LATER ON.  THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR THAT MACHINE.  THAT WAS NOT THE COMPELLING ARGUMENT FOR ME FOR WHY WE NEED TO INCREASE IT TO $60 MILLION.  I WANT TO KNOW WHY WHAT THEY HAD THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO HAVE A MACHINE.  BUT I DO THINK WITH THE GROWING POPULATION WE HAVE AND THE PRESSURES THAT ARE ON THE POPULATION, IN THIS SEASON RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE RECEIVING A LOT OF FEDERAL SUPPORT.  AND BECAUSE THEY ARE RECEIVING THAT FEDERAL SUPPORT, I DON'T FEEL THE TAXPAYERS RIGHT NOW WHO ARE STRUGGLING IN THE PANDEMIC SHOULD BE THE ONES TO PICK UP THE ADDITIONAL GAP THIS YEAR. 
          THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS WILL DRY UP. THEY'LL DRY UP SOON.  AND I THINK THAT NEXT YEAR, THAT MAYBE A TIME FOR US TO LOOK AT IT MORE CLOSELY AND SEE WHAT ARE THEIR NEEDS AND WHERE DO THEY NEED TO GO?  I HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN IN THAT IN BETWEEN ZONE OF MEDICAL TO WHERE WE NEED SOME MEDICAL BUT DON'T NEED TO NECESSARILY HAVE THE UNFETTERRED GROWTH IN THE MEDICAL.  COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU WERE A SHERIFF AT THE TIME THAT DEBATE OCCURRED HERE TO WHERE WE WERE HAVING TO BORROW FUNDS WHERE WE WERE TEN MONTHS OUT WE WERE BORROWING AGAINST NEXT YEAR.  THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT ASKS US TO GO INTO FURTHER DEBT SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO BORROW ONE DIME ON TANS. THAT WAS A DIFFICULT DISCUSSION THAT OCCURRED YEARS AGO, OR EIGHT YEARS AGO.  AT THAT TIME, I WAS ON THE SIDE OF I APPRECIATE THEM NOT WANTING TO GO INTO DEBT, BUT ASKING ME TO GO INTO FURTHER DEBT SO THEY WOULD NOT GO INTO DEBT WAS NOT A WINNING ARGUMENT AT THAT TIME. 
          TO ME, RIGHT NOW, ON TIMING, THEY'RE GETTING THE MONEY. 
          LET'S LET THE TAXPAYERS HAVE THE RELIEF THIS YEAR, BECAUSE THEY 
          ARE RECEIVING THOSE BENEFITS. >>  MAY I, COMMISSIONER? 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  YES. >> COMMISSIONER:  I DON'T NECESSARILY DISAGREE WITH THAT. BUT I'M NOT FOR A REVENUE REDUCTION JUST THE SAME.  AND LET ME ADD THAT WHEN WE GOT HERE, DR. SHAW AT THE TIME MADE A COMPELLING ARGUMENT THAT ALTHOUGH THEY GOT A LOT OF GRANTS AND HAVING WORKED WITH GRANTS IN MY PREVIOUS LIFE, I KNOW THE LIMITATION WAS GRANTS AND THE DIFFICULTY OF TRYING TO BE FLEXIBLE WITHIN THAT ENVIRONMENT. THAT IT'S NOT OPTIMUM TO SOLELY DEPEND ON FEDERAL GRANTS.  AND SO MY MOTIONS HAVE PUT I THINK SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $13 MILLION AND $15 MILLION GENERAL FUND DOLLARS INTO THE PUBLIC HEALTH BUDGET.  SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY.  SO I'M NOT -- SO I'M CAREFUL TO SAY THAT YOUR LOGIC MAKES SENSE.  I'M CAREFUL TO SAY THAT IT IS NOT THE BEST 
          ENVIRONMENT TO WORK WITHIN. >> COMMISSIONER:  SO WHAT ABOUT 
          THIS AS A COMPROMISE? >> COMMISSIONER:  OKAY. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  I'M TRACKING A LITTLE BIT.  COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, PUT MORE IN THE GENERAL FUND THAN I WAS COMFORTABLE WITH.  THE BUT I'M COMFORTABLE WITH PUTTING MORE INTO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT FUND.  IT ALL ENDS UP BEING BALANCED AT THE END.  WOULD YOU BE COMFORTABLE WITH TAKING THE DELTA FROM THE GENERAL FUND PROPOSED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, MOVING IT OVER TO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, AND THEN, THAT WAY, THE OVERALL RATE PROPOSED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WOULD BE ONE WE WOULD BE 
          [02:45:01]
IN AGREEMENT WITH IN TERMS OF TAXPAYERS, BUT IT MIGHT BE A SLIGHT BIT OF A MOVEMENT IN TERMS OF THE -- 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  I WOULD BE -- WE'RE SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE. 
          DAVE, SO THERE'S A CUT AND THEN THERE'S AN INCREASE AND THEN THERE'S A MIDDLE.  FAIR ENOUGH? IF WE HAD TO KEEP HOSPITAL DISTRICT'S MNO BUDGET FLAT, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? 
          >>  I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.  THIS IS MEETING THEIR BUDGET?  OR KEEPING THEIR REVENUE FLAT COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR?  IF 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  KEEPING THEIR REVENUE FLAT TO THE PRIOR YEAR. 
          >>  WELL, THAT'S RELATIVE TO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, RIGHT.  SO I THINK COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS, IF I HEAR RIGHT, IS GOING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO KEEP THE TAX REVENUE STABLE AT THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT. SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF APPRECIATION.  WHAT WOULD THE RATE REDUCTION BE TO KEEP IT STABLE?  I DON'T -- I HAVE AN APPROXIMATE NUMBER HERE.  IT WOULD BE AN ALL IN RATE OF ABOUT 0.162.  SO IT WOULD STILL BE BELOW THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.  IT WOULD STILL BE $17 MILLION BELOW.  BUT IT WOULD NOT BE A REVENUE REDUCTION ON THE ENTIRE 
          YEAR. >> COMMISSIONER:  SO THERE WOULD 
          BE $17 MILLION LESS.  THE >> THAN THE BUDGET. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  LESS THAN THE BUDGET. 
          >>  RIGHT. >> COMMISSIONER:  AND THERE WOULD BE -- THAT WOULD BE $17 MILLION LESS THAN WHAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS PROPOSED? 
          >>  I'M DOING THE MATH QUICKLY. WE CAN TALK AND NARROW IT DOWN A BIT.  IT WOULD BE $13 MILLION MORE REVENUE.  SO IT WOULD BE SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN WHAT YOU HAD ORIGINALLY PROPOSED AND WHERE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS RIGHT NOW.  AND I'LL ALSO JUST THROW OUT, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, EVEN IF THERE'S A STRAW VOTE THAT WE NEED DISCUSSION FOR THE HOSPITAL RATE NEXT YEAR, SHOULDN'T NECESSARILY START FROM A REDUCED RATE IF IT'S A ONE-TIME ADJUSTMENT IN LIGHT OF FEDERAL REVENUE.  I THINK THAT WOULD BE USEFUL.  I'M HEARING THAT AROUND THE TABLE, THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING THIS YEAR.  BUT IN THE FUTURE WE MIGHT NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.  WE CAN'T CHANGE THE WAY THE STATUTE WORKS, BUT WE HAVE A PLACE TO 
          PICK UP NEXT YEAR. >> COMMISSIONER:  AND I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER THAT.  IT'S A HALFWAY -- IT'S ABOUT HALFWAY BETWEEN WHERE I WANTED AND WHERE YOU STARTED AT. 
          WHICH, YOU KNOW, HAVING SAID ALL THAT I'VE SAID, I'M MAKING -- I'M ASKING THIS QUESTION RELUCTANTLY. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  WE GET THE BUDGET DIRECTOR TO PENCIL IT OUT, WRITE IT OUT AND LET US GO AND LOOK AT IT, WOULD THAT BE 
          PRODUCTIVE? >> COMMISSIONER:  I WOULD WELCOME THAT.  I WOULD WELCOME THAT.  I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO BE COMFORTABLE.  BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO FIND THE MIDDLE GROUND 
          THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  COMMISSIONER 
          ELLIS. >> COMMISSIONER:  IS THE PROPOSAL TO REDUCE THE GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET, NOT ON THE 
          COUNTY? >>  COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS THE GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET AT THE SAME AS WAS PROPOSED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.  I HAD A PRIOR PROPOSAL TO WHERE INSTEAD OF GOING A QUARTER OF A HALF A PENNY, I PROPOSED IT WENT UP A QUARTER OF A PENNY TO HAVE ROOM TO UTILIZE EXISTING BONDS AND CRITICAL EXPENSES.  COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS A PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW FOR HALF A PENNY, I GUESS, FOR FLOOD CONTROL -- NOT FLOOD CONTROL BUT FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT.  AND SO WHAT I WAS SUGGESTING IS THAT WE TAKE THE QUARTER PENNY THAT WOULD HAVE GONE OVER TO THE GENERAL FUND, THAT WE MOVE IT OVER TO, FROM COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S PROPOSAL THAT WE MOVE THAT QUARTER PENNY TO FLOOD CONTROL -- TO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  WHAT IMPACT THAT HAS ON OUR BUDGET, MR. BARRY, AND OUR ABILITY TO GO UP DURING THE NEXT CYCLE. 
          [02:50:01]
          >>  SO WE WOULD THEN, ON THE SHORTFALL RELATIVE TO OUR APPROVED BUDGET, WE WOULD HAVE TO IDENTIFY CUTS TO THE EXISTING BUDGET, WHETHER THAT BE PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, SOMETHING ELSE, AND HAVE A NEW BASELINE IN THE FUTURE WITH THE SAME CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED.  AND I WILL SAY, I AM ALSO ACUTELY AWARE, PARTICULARLY ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY SIDE, WE HAVE MORE DEMANDS FOR INVESTMENTS COMING DOWN THE PIPE.  WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET.  IT'S POSSIBLE WE HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ANYWAY TO DEAL WITH THINGS THAT ARE COMING 
          DOWN THE PIPE. >> COMMISSIONER:  BIG POINT OF MY CONCERN IS THE IMPACT IT HAS ON OUR BUDGET AND OUR RATE IN THE NEXT CYCLE.  IT IS GOOD WE HAVE MOVED SETTING A TAX RATE TO THE BUDGET BUT WE ADOPTED THIS BUDGET.  I WANT TO SAY -- I SUGGEST FROM MY VANTAGE POINT I DO APPRECIATE THE GESTURE, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, OF SOME MOVEMENT. 
          I THOUGHT JUST FROM MY PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, IT WAS COMPROMISING ON MY PART BECAUSE I WAS IN AGREEMENT WITH DR. PORSA.  AND I TAKE THE CRITICISM FOR IT.  I DO KNOW THE AVERAGE DOLLAR AMOUNT PER MONTH TO THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER, TAXPAYER, BETWEEN GARCIA'S PLAN -- YOURS IS ABOUT $2 PER MONTH.  AND I KNOW THAT WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IS, COMMISSIONER CAGLE, A SEVERELY UNDERFUNDED COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR DECADES.  I BLAME IT ON ANY PARTY, WHOEVER WAS IN CHARGE.  I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO GAVE ME THE PRAISE WHEN I GOT HERE ABOUT THIS BEING A SHADOW GOVERNMENT. 
          IF I DID KNOW, I WOULDN'T REPEAT IT. 
          I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY THAT HAD A PLAN FOR US TO HAVE 5 MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS REGION.  WITH OUR TOPOGRAPHY AND EVEN WITH OUR CLIMATE CHANGE.  I GOT ONE OF THOSE PRECINCTS THAT WAS DISADVANTAGED WITH FLOOD CONTROL MONEY HISTORICALLY, ON ROAD MONEY HISTORICALLY.  THERE WERE DEALS THAT WERE CUT BEFORE I GOT HERE.  BUT ALL THOSE ROADS THAT WERE BIT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, IS GOING SOMEWHERE.  I JUST, YOU KNOW, WHAT, OUR BUDGET, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, TALKED TO ALL OF US.  IT REALLY IS THE BASIC MORALE DOCUMENT. IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE'RE DOING. I GET IT.  FROM MY YEARS IN GOVERNMENT, I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO OPERATE IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION.  I WENT INTO LEGISLATION WHEN DEMOCRATS WERE IN CHARGE.  TWO YEARS, I THINK, FOUR YEARS.  CHAIRED THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.  IT WASN'T THE BUDGET I WOULD PREFER BUT HAD TO COMPROMISE.  I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO WORK IN A BIPARTISAN ENVIRONMENT.  THEN, WE GOT TO GET ALONG WITH THE 150 ON THE OTHER SIDE AND GOES TO THE GOVERNOR.  AND THEN, COMING HERE, I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS. SO YOU GOT BIPARTISAN BY MYSELF WHEN I GOT HERE.  AND I COULD ASSURE YOU FROM TIME TO TIME YOU TWO HAVE FELT SLIGHTED.  YOU OUGHT TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE TAPES.  SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES IF THEY REALLY THOUGHT IT WAS FAIR.  BUT YOU GET OVER THAT.  BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW -- HEY, I WANT TO BE HERE. WHETHER I GET MY PLAN OR NOT.  I JUST THINK IF SOMEBODY DECIDES TO TO BREAK A QUORUM, YOU KNOW LEGISLATIVE BODIES IT'S AN AGE-OLD TRADITION.  ABRAHAM LINCOLN DID IT AS A STATE LEGISLATOR ON SOME BANKING LEGISLATION.  JUMPED OUT OF THE SECOND FLOOR CHURCH AND DAMN NEAR BROKE HIS LEG. HE DID IT.  IF THE ISSUE IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY MOVES YOU THAT MUCH, I GET IT.  BROKE QUORUM FOR 37 DAYS OVER RE-REDISTRICTING.  I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS A MORALE STATEMENT WHEN I DID IT. 
          BUT WHAT WE ARE DEVOLVING TO I THINK IS, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE AROUND HERE, THIS COULD END UP BEING 3-2 THE OTHER WAY.  I MENTIONED EARLIER, WHEN I WAS ASKED SINCERELY TO NOT VOTE NO. 
          [02:55:02]
THE HE THOUGHT IT WOULD KILL THE BOND ISSUE.  I THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND FIGURED HE VOTED NO AND I'M SITTING HERE AND EVERYBODY IS WATCHING.  HE GOT ME.  I SWITCHED IT.  I'M GOING TO BE HERE REGARDLESS.  I JUST THINK AFTER HEARING THIS TESTIMONY TODAY, I APPRECIATE THE CHAIR AND THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT STILL BEING ON THE LINE.  WE GOT A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS WE CAN DO TO CUT THE BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS. RAMSEY, THE ONE I TALKED ABOUT, WE CAN BRING UP AGAIN.  I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW -- I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES SENSE. (SIMULTANEOUS SPEAKING) 
          >> I'M GOING TO SHOW UP AND VOTE KNOW.  I'M GOING TO VOTE ON THE COMPROMISE THAT I BELIEVE HE CAME UP WITH.  AND IF THE VOTES 
          GO THE OTHER WAY, SO BE IT. >> COMMISSIONER:  LET ME -- LET ME SAY THIS, COMMISSIONER.  I MEAN, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS COURT, I FEEL LIKE I'M ACTUALLY HAVING A CONVERSATION. I MEAN, COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS LOOKING.  HE SAYS WHAT IF WE DID THIS.  TIT'S A RECOGNITION SOME OF THE CONCERNS WE HAD RELATED TO SPENDING, THAT MIGHT BE LEGIT.  AND RECOGNIZING WE ALL WOULD LIKE TO GIVE AS MUCH MONEY TO EVERYBODY AS WE POSSIBLY COULD.  BUT TO RECOGNIZE AND SAY YOU KNOW WHAT?  I MAY UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CONCERN THAT'S BEING EXPRESSED ON THE SPENDING SIDE IN TERMS OF MAYBE WE HADN'T SPENT EVERYTHING TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY UP TO THIS POINT.  WITHOUT REHASHING EVERYTHING -- AND I THINK FOR COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I SAID FOR THE FIRST TIME COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE, THEY'RE SITTING HERE SAYING IF WE GET THIS THING IN SOMETHING DIGITS, WE CAN WORK WITH THAT. 
          YOU CAN'T WORK WITH $65 MILLION. THAT'S HARD TO WORK WITH.  BUT WE WORK WITH IT.  WITH SINGLE -- AND THAT'S WHERE I THOUGHT SOUNDS LIKE WE WERE HEADED.  I WAS ENCOURAGED BY THAT. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  A SIMPLE SUGGESTION, IT MIGHT BE ONCE YOU SHOW UP.  I DON'T THINK IT'S AN INDICATION THAT HE AGREES WITH YOUR ARGUMENT.  FROM MY STANDPOINT, IT'S A CONCESSION. 
          HE'S DECIDING TO MAKE IT AND I RESPECT IT, TO GET YOU TO SHOW UP.  IN MY HEARTS OF HEARTS, I DIDN'T HEAR HIM SAYING THAT HE AGREES WITH IT.  I'M SAYING TO YOU, I'M MAKING AN APPEAL TO YOU.  NONE OF US WANT TO REVERSE -- 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  HE DIDN'T AGREE TO IT.  NEITHER HAVE I NOR COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.  I THINK WE'RE HERE SAYING WE DON'T LIKE THIS, BUT WE'RE ALL PASSIONATE ABOUT FLOOD CONTROL.  I THINK 
          THAT SOME -- >> COMMISSIONER:  I'M JUST FOR THE RECORD PASSIONATE ABOUT HEALTHCARE. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  I THINK -- DO YOU HAVE ALL THE NUMBERS READY? 
          I THINK -- >> I DO NOW. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  SO BASICALLY, THE IDEAS ARE THERE'S THE GARCIA PROPOSAL.  THERE'S THE RAMSEY PROPOSAL AND THERE'S THE CAGLE PART TWO PROPOSAL.  AND THEN, THERE'S THE GARCIA PART TWO PROPOSAL.  SO THERE'S FOUR. BECAUSE -- AND FRANKLY, MY PERSPECTIVE IS THAT WHAT BARRY PROPOSED, THOSE -- IN MY MIND, I MEAN, IT'S NOT MY IDEAL EITHER. BUT I THINK AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, FROM AT LEAST 2008, PERHAPS EVEN BEFORE THAT, HAVING THE QUOTE-UNQUOTE SAME RATE WAS ENOUGH FOR THE REPUBLICANS ON THIS COURT TO FEEL COMFORTABLE THEY HAD DONE THE PARTY LINE AND CUT TAXES.  AND NOW, WE ARE REWRITING THE DEFINITION OF CUTTING TAXES TO SAY WE NEED TO ELECT SO FEW TAXES THAT WE CANNOT FUND THE BUDGET THAT WE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.  SO THE DEFINITION IS CHANGING.  AND SO THAT'S -- WHEN I HEAR, OKAY. 
          MAYBE WE WILL UNDERFUND THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT OR THE COUNTY FUNDING WHICH MEANS PUBLIC SAFETY THIS YEAR, WE WILL NOT JUST UNDERFUND IT THEORETICALLY, WE WILL LITERALLY NOT COLLECT ENOUGH REVENUE TO FUND A BUDGET WE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.  WE'RE ALSO SAYING NEXT YEAR ONCE COVID IS OVER, WE'LL MAKE CUTS FOR THAT.  I DON'T SEE HOW YOU GUYS WALK BACK FROM IT ONCE YOU'VE REDEFINED QUOTE-UNQUOTE CUTTING TAXES TO MEAN NOT MAKING THE BUDGET.  AND I JUST THINK THIS IS GOING A BIT FAR.  AND I DON'T THINK -- I THINK IT IS CLEAR THAT BARRY'S PROPOSAL IS 
          [03:00:03]
EXTREMELY REASONABLE.  FOR THE AVERAGE HOME, TAXES STAY THE SAME OR GO DOWN.  FOR ALL PROPERTIES, TAXES WILL MOST CERTAINLY GO DOWN.  AND OVERALL, IT'S A 2.2% REDUCTION ADDED TO THE FACT THAT IT'S UNPRECEDENTED COMPARED TO WHAT HAPPENED IN PAST CRISES WHICH WE'VE HAD OTHERS.  DURING THE FINANCIAL CRISIS THIS WASN'T DONE.  IT'S A REWRITING OF THE DEFINITION AND RACE TO THE BOTTOM.  SO YOU KNOW, I'LL ENTERTAIN THE PROPOSALS.  I THINK WE NEED TO BE CLEAR WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WE'RE SETTING A BAD PRECEDENT. WE CAN'T FORGET BY UNDERFUNDING THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT OR THE COUNTY, WHICHEVER ONE IT IS, IT'S NOT JUST THIS YEAR.  LIKE COMMISSIONER CAGLE MENTIONED, IT'S 60 ON 60 ON 60.  IF YOU CUT IT BACK, IT'S THAT CUT AD NAUSEAM.  WE'VE ALREADY CUT IT AD NAUSEAM IN 2019 AND IN 2020. 
          SO NOW YOU'RE COMPOUNDING THE UNDERFUNDING.  AND THIS IS A COUNTY THAT NEEDS MORE RESOURCES, NOT FEWER FOR ALL OF 
          THE DEMANDS THAT EXISTS. >> COMMISSIONER:  I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST AS A CONCESSION THAT WE -- I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND POLITICIANS WANT POLITICAL COVER.  I SUGGEST WE VOTE ON CAGLE'S MOTION.  WE VOTE ON RAMSEY'S MOTION.  COMMISSIONER GARCIA DECIDES ON GARCIA TWO, WE CAN VOTE ON THAT ONE.  AND IT MAY END THERE.  OR GO ONTO THE ORIGINAL ONE.  AND LOOK, HEY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, I'VE MADE THE COMMENT BEFORE YOU TOOK THE OATH, SOMETIMES FRIENDS DISAGREE.  THAT'S ALREADY. 
          HELL, IT INCREASES THE CHANCES SOMEBODY MIGHT BE RIGHT.  I DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL.  AND I STRESS I'M GOING TO SHOW UP. 
          SOME ISSUES JUST MOVE ME SO MUCH.  WE'RE GETTING INTO A CYCLE HERE WHERE ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE TAX RATE -- THAT'S WHY OUR CITY, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I UNDERSTAND WHY MAYOR WHITE DID IT.  WHAT WE'RE DOING ON THIS LITTLE GAMESMANSHIP, I CAN DO IT TOO BY THE WAY, PARTICULARLY WITH MY DISTRICT. 
          IT'S A LOT OF FUN.  BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WANT THE PLACE TO WORK, WHICH IS WHY I SWITCHED MY VOTE.  WHEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ASKED ME TO. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I GET IT. 
          ALL OF MY TRICKS, AT THE ENDED OF THE DAY THE PLACE HAS TO 
          WORK.  WITH THAT I VOTE. >>  YOUR HONOR, I REQUEST AGAIN. 
          I THINK THE GARCIA TWO, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NUMBERS.  WOULD YOU ALLOW US TO HAVE A MOMENT TO LET DAVE PULL THOSE UP.  LET ME GO IN MY CORNER AND PULL THEM OUT AND LOOK AT THEM BEFORE YOU -- IF WE ARE GOING TO VOTE NOW AND VOTE ON THE SUPREME BUREAUCRAT'S RECOMMENDATION, WE CAN DO THAT.  BUT IT SEEMED LIKE 
          WE GOT REAL CLOSE. >>  IF I MIGHT.  JUST I RECOGNIZE THE DESIRE POTENTIALLY TO TAKE DIFFERENT VOTES.  BUT SITTING HERE JUST WATCHING, I HEAR FOUR VOTES IN SUPPORT FOR A COUNTY RAISE.  FIVE VOTES OF SUPPORT FOR FLOOD CONTROL RATE. 
          SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A HOSPITAL DISTRICT'S RATE.  AND WE'VE HEARD ONE VIEW THAT IS PLUS 25 OVER THE BUDGET. 
          WE'VE HEARD ONE VIEW WHICH WAS WHAT COMMISSIONER CAGLE MOVED IN THE LAST MEETING, WHICH WAS MINUS 36.  COMMISSIONER RAMSEY BROUGHT A PROPOSAL WHICH WAS MINUS 30. 
          I HEARD FROM COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I MIGHT BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH MINUS 17 IF WE GOT A DEAL DONE.  THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT COMES OUT.  I'M HEARING FROM JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THEY DON'T LIKE IT VERY MUCH.  BUT WE'RE -- I THINK THAT'S THE ONE NUMBER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.  AND WHILE 
          THERE IS STILL A DIFFERENCE -- >> COMMISSIONER:  POSSIBLY, WE MADE UP THE 17 THAT WENT TO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT ON OUR OTHER 
          NUMBER ON THE GENERAL FUND -- >> JUDGE HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER -- (SIMULTANEOUS SPEAKING) 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  WE NEED ONE SINGLE PROPOSAL.  WE CAN'T -- 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  THAT'S WHY I WAS WANTING TO SEE WHAT WAS 
          GOING ON. >> COMMISSIONER:  I THOUGHT IT WAS -- THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING. WE TAKE IT OUT OF THE GENERAL, WE'RE GOING TO DEFUND -- THE GENERAL FUND IS PUBLIC SAFETY. 
          WE'RE GOING TO DEFUND THAT AND GIVE IT TO ANOTHER AREA. 
          >>  THAT'S NOT WHAT I HEARD FROM COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          >> COMMISSIONER:  THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE THINKING COMMISSIONER. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  WE CAN RUN THROUGH THE NUMBERS NOW. 
          >>  I AM HAPPY TO. >> COMMISSIONER:  JUST TO BE CLEAR, MY COUNTER IS ON MY PROPOSAL AS IT STANDS WITH THE 
          [03:05:01]
EXCEPTION OF THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT.  I WANT TO BE REAL 
          CLEAR. >> COMMISSIONER:  SO YOUR GARCIA A THAT WE HAD TODAY.  WOULD BE THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO BRING 
          DOWN THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT? >>  IF I MIGHT FRAME IT A DIFFERENT WAY, IT'S HEARTENING WE LOST TRACK OF THE PROPOSAL BECAUSE IT MEANS WE'RE WORKING. IT IS THE COUNTY RATE THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA MOVED AT THE PRIOR MEETING AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY BROUGHT TO THE TABLE TODAY.  IT'S THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT RATE ALL FIVE OF YOU AGREE ON.  THERE'S THE HOSPITAL 
          DISTRICT. >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  GARCIA PROPOSAL A IS THE SAME AS BARRY'S PROPOSAL.  THEN, THERE'S GARCIA PROPOSAL B, WHICH IS BARRY'S PROPOSAL BUT FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, IT IS -- IT PUTS A NEGATIVE $17.1 MILLION COMPARED TO THE BUDGET AS OPPOSED TO PUTTING UP $4.6 MILLION.  THE BARRY RATE PUTS THE -- THE BARRY AND GARCIA A PROPOSAL PUTS THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT UP $4.6 MILLION.  THEN, THERE'S THE RAMSEY PROPOSAL. THE RAMSEY PROPOSAL IS THE SAME AS GARCIA A AND BARRY.  BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS IS THAT IT PUTS THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT AT MINUS $30 MILLION COMPARED TO THE BUDGET.  AND THEN, THERE'S THE CAGLE PROPOSAL.  THE CAGLE B PROPOSAL.  AND THAT ONE IS BASICALLY SHUFFLING FUNDS FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT -- EXCUSE ME FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT.  SO WE'LL PUT THE GENERAL FUND AT $10 MILLION BELOW.  AND THEN, THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT AT MINUS 20 AS OPPOSED TO MINUS 30.  AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE BARRY AND THE GARCIA A PROPOSAL ARE ALREADY A REDUCTION.  AND ALL OF US CAN EARN BROWNIE POINTS SAYING WE CUT TAXES.  YOU SAID IT, WE'VE BEEN SAYING THE PAST THREE YEARS WE CUT THEM BECAUSE IT'S A NICE MESSAGE.  I MEAN, WE ARE -- WE SHOULD BE NEGOTIATING ON WHAT THE COUNTY NEEDS.  IT DOES NOT BENEFIT ME CERTAINLY I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF IN ANYWAY TO WANT TO CUT POLITICALLY CUT THE TAXES LESS.  I KNOW WE'RE HEADED DOWN A DANGEROUS PATH.  I'M HERE. I'LL SHOW UP, TOO.  WE'LL SEE WHAT THE MAJORITY -- WE'LL GET THE MAJORITY VOTES.  I URGE EVERYONE TO KEEP THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE.  A RACE TO THE BOTTOM IS NOT WHAT THIS PANEL NEEDS.  SO DO YOU HAVE THESE -- GARCIA A, GARCIA B, RAMSEY AND CAGLE B PROPOSALS WRITTEN OUT TO WHERE YOU COULD SEND THOSE AROUND AND WE CAN ALL TAKE 20 MINUTES TO LOOK AT THEM?  OR SHOULD -- WOULD IT BE MORE PRODUCTIVE TO FILL THEM OUT HERE?  WHAT WORKS FOR YOU, DAVE? COMMISSIONER CAGLE, WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST? 
          >>  I'M LISTENING.  I DON'T KNOW THAT GETTING INTO OUR CORNERS IS 
          GOING TO HELP. >>  I'LL SPEAK. 
          >> JUDGE HIDALGO:  WE'LL BE BACK 
          >> WE BROUGHT DAVE BACK OVER AND WE RAN THE NUMBERS AND THIS IS WHAT I UNDERSTAND. IF WE BRING THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT DOWN TO A.16221, WE DID THE COUNTY AND KEPT IT AT WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY GARCIA ONE AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AT 37697 AND WE KEPT FLOOD CONTROL AT WHAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY ALL 
          AGREEMENTS SHOULD BE. >> OK, YOU   , YOU MEANT 37693. 
          >> YES. >> AND WE KEEP THE PORT AS PREVIOUSLY RECOMMENDED. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT OUR NEW TAX RATE WOULD BE .3585 AND LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE WAS .059920. 
          [03:10:17]
AND 0016 AND CHANGE FOR THE DELTA AND I'M GOING TO HAVE DAVE RUN THE SPECIFICS OR JUDGE, YOU CAN RUN THE SPECIFICS WITH REGARD TO THAT. WHAT THIS MEANS IF WE TAKE NEW CONSTRUCTION OUT OF THE OCCASION, AND WE DON'T DOWNS   W CONSTRUCTION, BUT IF YOU HAD A $100,000 HOME AND LAST YEAR, YOU PAID 599.20 AND WITH THIS PROPOSAL AND YOU'RE A HOMEOWNER WITH A $100,000 HOME, YOU'LL PAY 589.20. 
          YOUR BILL WILL NOT GO UP. SOME HOMES GET IT AND THIS IS OVERALL FEW FEDERAL WITH REGARD WITH REGARD -- THIS YEAR YOU WILL PAY 581.25. 
          YOU WILL PAY LESS ON AVERAGE AND SOME HOMES ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY WERE IN THE HOME AND SOME ARE LESS. 
          BUT ON AVERAGE, IF YOU HAD A $100,000 HOME, YOU WOULD HAVE A REDUCTION IN THAT AMOUNT. AND I WILL ACCEPT THE TABLE 
          DISCUSSION COMPROMISE. >> SO THEN, IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE 
          GARCIA B PLAN. >> CORRECT. 
          >> WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL IN THE DISCUSSION COMPROMISE. 
          >> THE GARCIA B RAMSEY CKEGELD. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GOT THE NUMBERS RIGHT IN WHAT IT WOULD. 
          >> THIS IS A BIT EASIER TO RAISE THE RATE WITH THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT. IS THAT CORRECT? 
          >> THAT'S CORRECT. THAT LIMIT IS 8% ANNUALLY VERSE THE 3.5% THAT APPLIES TO OTHER ENTITIES. 
          >> SO I'M GOING DO IT, BUT I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE DR. PORSA AND THE FOLKS AT THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT TO MAKE THAT CASE AND I HEARD SOME SUPPORT FOR A BONDS S ISSUE AND EMBARRASSING AND FROM WHAT I HEARD, IT'S HARD IN HARRIS COUNTY AND I KNOW THAT FOR HOMEOWNERS THAT WILL APPRECIATE THE $8. 
          >> IT'S GOING TO BE -- THE ARGUE AVERAGE HOME FOR THOSE THAT RENT, THEY WOULD BE AMAZED FOR THOSE WHO OWN THE HOMES,, IN THAT NEIGHBOR, BUT THOSE PEOPLE THAT RENTS, WHICH, UNFORTUNATELY ARE FAR THAT MANY PEOPLE WON'T GET THAT, BECAUSE EVEN ON THE STATE LEVEL, WE DO THOSE AND THEY DID PASS ON THE PEOPLE WHO RENTING THEM AND THEM AND WE HAVE TO FIND THAT. 
          >> SO DAVE TO CONFIRM IN PROPOSAL WHERE FOLKS ARE LANDING WOULD BE A RATE FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT OF.16047 FOR MNO AND .0017 FOR DEBT SERVICE FOR A TOTAL OF 1.622 FOR THE HOSPITAL 
          DISTRICT, IS THAT RIGHT. >> YES. 
          >> THE TOTAL TAX IS .518035. >> SAY THAT AGAIN. 
          >> 58135. SO HERE IS THE THING WE'LL ARE 
          [03:15:01]
TO DO, BECAUSE WE'RE PROPOSING A RATE THAT CAME UP ORGANICALLY AT THE TABLE, WE DID NOT COME UP WITH THIS BEFORE. 
          FIRST WE HAVE TO RENOTICE THIS RATE, THIS SET OF PROPOSALS. 
          SO THAT THERE'S A HEARING ON THIS PROPOSAL AND WE CAN HAVE THAT HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 28TH S THE NEWER MEETING FOR COURT ANYWAY. THAT'S STEP ONE. 
          STEP TWO IS, WE NEED TO PUT THE OTHER TWO RATES FOR ADOPTION, THE ONES WE DO -- WE DID ELECTRIC HAVE        ALREADY HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING AND AFTER WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT RATE, THEN DAVE AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WILL FIGURE OUT WHAT THE APPROPRIATE DATE IS IN ORDER TO HAVE THE VOTE ON ALL THREE ENTITIES, INCLUDING THE PORT, CORRECT. 
          SO HERE ARE THE MOTIONS AND PLEASE STOP ME IF THE CONVERSATION WE HAD EARLIER -- WE WANT TO BE CONSERVATIVE IN OUR READ OF THE STATUTE AS FAR AS DATES. 
          THERE'S TO HURRY AND WE NEED MULTIPLE MEETINGS, AND THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE BY OCTOBER 15TH. 
          WE NEED A MOTION TO SET UP PUBLIC HEARING ON 
          SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2021. >> YOU THINK WE HAVE A JOINT RECOMMENDATION HERE. LET'S HAVE THE HEARING -- WE HAVE SIMPLIFIED THAT AND WE HAVE ONE SET OF RATES AND LET'S EXTEND TO ALL SETS OF RATES AND WE HAVE SCHEDULED HEARING TO VOTE ON THE FULL SET OF RATES. AND THAT IS PROBABLY NOT NECESSARY BUT OUT OF ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, LET'S DO IT AND IT 
          WILL BE SIMPLE FOR PEOPLE. >> WE'LL REDO THE HEARING WE 
          JUST DID. >> CORRECT, JUDGE. 
          >> SO, THEN, WHAT WE WOULD DO IS BASICALLY HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 28TH FOR THE NEW HOSPITAL DISTRICT RATE, AS WELL AS YET ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FLOOD CONTROL RATE AND THE 
          HARRIS COUNTY RATE. >> CORRECT. 
          >> -- THAT WE HEARD TODAY. AND THEN WE WILL SET SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE TO VOTE ON ALL OF THE RATES ALL TOGETHER AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT BECAUSE YOU'LL MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A DATE THAT IS PER THE STATUTE WITH BELLS AND WHISTLES. 
          WE NEED A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2021 TO CONSIDER THE TAX RAYS. FOR HARRIS COUNTY IT'S .33500 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND THE RATE OF .0419 FOR DEBT SERVICE AND FOR A TAX RATE OF.76393 AND FOR FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT OF .25 --.0599 AND .0790 AND FOR HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT .1607 FOR MAINTENANCE IS OPERATIONS AND .00174 FOR DEBT SERVICE AND USE AND AUTHORITY, .00872 AND FOR ALL HARRIS COUNTY ENTITIES, .58135 AND THE SECOND MOTION, WE NEED -- WANT TO MAKE A MOVE ON THIS? 
          >> SHARE. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CABLE. 
          >> ALL IN FAVOR AND MOTION CARRIES. 
          SECOND MOTION IS TO DIRECT COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO WORK WITH COMMISSIONERS COURT OFFICES TO SCHEDULE A VOTE TO OFF ADOPT THESE RATES AT A FUTURE MEETING AT  . 
          >> THE MOTION CARRIES. >> WE'RE GOOD TO GO. 
          >> ANY OTHER SPEAKERS, STEPHANIE. 
          >> YOU'RE GOOD TO GO. >> IS THERE GO TO BE A MOTION TO 
          [03:20:03]
          MAKE AN OBJECTION ON? >> ITEM ONE WAS A DISCUSSION OF 
          POSSIBLE ACTION AND WE -- . >> BOTH MOTIONS WOULD BE RELATED 
          TO ITEM ONE. >> ITEM ONE. 
          >> AND OTHER ITEMS ARE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. 
          >> CORRECT. AND IT'S 6:29, AND WE'RE ADJOURNED AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU ALL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.