By Dawn Burleigh

The Orange Leader

Orange County Commissioners Court will hold a public hearing at 1 p.m. Tuesday at 123 South 6^th Street in Orange to certify the petition received for the creation of a Hospital District.

According to the agenda for the hearing, upon approval of a Hospital District and issuance of an Order approving same by Commissioners’ Court, petitioners request that said Commissioners’ Court appoint five temporary directors of the proposed Hospital District. The proposed Hospital District directors shall have the power to impose a property tax. The maximum tax rate to be voted on at the creation election may not exceed $0.18 on each $100 valuation of all taxable property in the Hospital District, with said maximum tax rate, after formation of the Hospital District, to not be subject to increase without further approval by the registered voters of the Hospital District. The proposed Hospital District shall NOT be authorized to impose a sales and use tax under Subchapter 1 of Chapter 286 of the Texas Health & Safety Code without further approval by the registered voters of the Hospital District. After formation of the Hospital District, the directors of the Hospital District shall be elected one from each of the four commissioner precincts in Orange County, Texas, with the fifth and final member to be elected from the County at large.

The hearing is not for voicing one’s opinion on the approval or rejection of said district, according to Commissioner Barry Burton.

“This is the time to say the date selected will work or will not be good ,” Burton said.

The signatures on the petition have been verified by the Orange County Election Board to confirm the petitioners are Orange County registered voters.

If the court certifies the petition, dates and locations will be considered for the election and early election during the court’s 2 p.m. meeting.