Houston City Council members unanimously gave first-round approval for a temporary taxing district to help Houston, Mo.-based Texas County Memorial Hospital replace its 40-year-old surgical wing, Houston Herald reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. If the taxing district earns final approval at a Nov. 19 meeting, a quarter-cent sales tax would apply to property owners in and around the hospital area, as well as four nearby businesses collecting sales tax.
2. About $675,000 collected from retailers in the district would be earmarked for the surgery center project. The sales tax would end when the hospital's new surgical wing is funded.
3. Some residents and local business owners opposed the district. Business owner Richard Wood opposes the taxation without a vote and resident Gary Parish said he believes the entire county should finance the project.
4. The Houston Area Chamber of Commerce, two local physicians and an attorney representing TCMH supported the proposal.