When most people think about property taxes, they think about schools, roads and public safety.
But some property tax revenue also helps pay for health care.
Special public hospital districts across Central Florida use property tax revenue to fund care for low-income and uninsured residents. There’s about a half-dozen in Central Florida.
“We’re taking care of those who cannot get even Medicaid here in the state,” said Judy Craig, a West Volusia Hospital Authority commissioner. “The coverage that we provide takes care of those patients who can’t find it anywhere else.”
Amendment 3 could reduce the funding those districts receive.
The Florida Policy Institute estimates the West Volusia Hospital Authority could lose more than $11 million over the next three years. That would represent more than half of the authority’s total operating budget, according to the report.
“If we cut any of those services, then it’s going to be very difficult for the patients to keep their health in check,” Craig said.
The authority works with the Neighborhood Center of West Volusia to connect residents with its Health Card program, which provides access to preventive care.
“Currently, this program helps with preventive care,” said Savannah-Jane Griffin of the Neighborhood Center of West Volusia. “It gets individuals to doctors before it becomes a crisis.”
Craig said the authority primarily serves patients with serious and long-term illnesses who may not qualify for other forms of assistance.
The authority said losing property tax revenue could lead to fewer services, longer wait times and less access to care for some of the community’s most vulnerable residents.
Other Central Florida public hospital districts expected to lose property tax revenue, according to the Florida Police Institute, over the next three years include:
- Halifax Hospital Taxing District: Nearly $10 million
- Southeast Volusia Hospital Authority: About $2.6 million
- West Volusia Hospital Authority: More than $11 million