HOUSTON – In this election on Nov. 7, voters within Harris County approved a $2.5 billion bond that will help renovate Ben Taub General Hospital and Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital.
According to the Harris Health System, both hospitals are operating over capacity and facing a significant population growth.
Harris County election results for Texas general election on Nov. 7, 2023
The bond will be used to build a new trauma hospital and mental healthcare services at LBJ and more inpatient rooms at Ben Taub. The investment will also help reduce the strain on LBJ and Ben Taub by increasing their capacity and improve access to care for those in need.
Here’s how the money will be allocated:
LBJ
New trauma hospital: $1.6 billion
- Increase patient capacity in multiple areas
- Position for trauma
- Economic boost for northeast Harris County
Old LBJ renovations: $433 million
- Transform facility to address critical service gaps
- Provides for outpatient access as part of campus master planning
Ben Taub
Approximately $410 million will be allocated for the following:
- Extend facility lifespan by 15 years
- Address existing capacity limitations
- Improving clinical inefficiencies
- New Inpatient Tower adding 120 incremental patient rooms
Ambulatory care services: $504.5 million
- Three new facilities (Northshore/Cloverleaf - Precinct 2, Northwest - Precinct 3, Southwest - Precinct 4)
- Transition low-volume sites to larger, comprehensive sites
How will this bond impact property taxes?
According to Harris Health, the average homeowner will see a property tax increase of less than $6 per month, which will be phased in over 10 years. Additional investment over the next 10 years is expected to come from: anticipated $300 million in operational efficiencies/cost savings and anticipated $100 million in grants and philanthropy.
For more information about its plan, go here for more information from Harris Health.