Somervell County is proposing raising taxes to cover the budget and held the 2nd public hearing on that this morning. (I think they only hold two). Here's video of that, with one man who made a comment.

P.S. the video is a litlte grainer than what I normally would like, but putting them on Youtube now and Youtube has a size and length limitation which necessitates a lower resolution for size.

Update: Feb 5 2009- I didn't realize when I originally did that, that this raising of the taxes was at least partially in response to Somervell County loaning 14.5 million dollars through a certificate of obligation to private nonprofit Glen Rose Medical Center, also known as the Glen Rose Medical Foundation, which leases the land, building, and equipoment from Somervell County for $1.00 per year. The GRMC/GRMF has to pay it back, of course, at the rate of approximately 750,000 per year but in the meantime it's really Somervell County that is obligated, since it is their assets. Therefore, they had to adjust the budget to cover the payments for this and held a couple of hearings about it. What this means is that, should GRMC go under or whatever, we're already paying for the expansion. (Mike Ford has said that the county wants a hospital, so one imagines that they might look to find another tenant). alternatively, should the hospital district not pass, GRMC will still be leasing the stuff. I can't see any reason why Somervell County would have to raise taxes ... AGAIN.. but if the hospital district passes, the taxes will go up. And GRMC's Gary Marks has said in his Town Hall meetings that GRMC will be sending support to clicics outside this county. I strenuously object to paying taxes for the upkeep or support in any way, not even one thin dime, of clinics outside this county. If GRMC wants to stay a private non-profit, manage their company efficienetly and come up with the money themselves, I certainly have no objection to free enterprise. But I already voted no on the hospital district. And I recommend to anyone that asks that they vote it down, too.