Since Hurricane Ike, the number of Galveston County residents who work at the University of Texas Medical Branch has decreased by 1,986.
Those jobs are gone. Those folks drew salaries that added up to $26.4 million. That money was spent at area grocery and clothing stores and in beauty shops and restaurants all across the county.
Since then, the medical branch — Galveston County’s largest employer — has been given a shot at new life. It’s been given an infusion of cash by the Texas Legislature. Officials at the medical branch have been given a chance to rebuild the institution to what it was before the storm.
When county commissioners meet today to discuss a tax increase to provide hospital and specialist care for uninsured county residents, they are going to talk about the importance of rebuilding the medical branch.
Although the medical services can be provided anywhere — not just at the medical branch — legislators have made it clear that continued state support for the medical branch depends on county taxpayers picking up the tab for county residents.
We understand that this is an awful time for a tax increase. People across the county are trying desperately to rebuild their homes and businesses. We’ve made that argument ourselves more than once.
But, while we agree that this tax increase will be painful, it’s pretty obvious that the alternative of saying no would be worse.
For example, 830 of the people who work at the medical branch live in League City. They make $69 million. That money is circulated through shops and businesses in League City. Some of it ends up funding city services through property taxes.
If you consider the whole county, we’re talking about 5,752 jobs with a payroll of $390.79 million.
Compare the cost of a tax increase — let’s say 6 cents per $100 of assessed value, or about $15 million for the entire county —
against the gradual but inevitable erosion of those jobs. Wouldn’t you say that the first is more like a bad sprain and the second is more like a bad auto wreck?
People who are unable to distinguish between those levels of pain baffle us — particularly those who are in public office.
When facing tough challenges, real leaders lead.
The pretenders say they are against raising taxes but have absolutely nothing to offer in the way of an alternative.
We should expect more from people we elect to lead us. If there is a better way to avoid the economic pain of seeing the county’s largest employer and its largest health care provider languish, what exactly is it?
And should we really listen to anyone who isn’t up to the challenge of offering an alternative?
County commissioners have shown some real courage in bringing this to a vote.
