Commissioner Crookham urges study of dedicated revenue for public health, highlights I‑35 harms in East Austin

Commissioner Crookham updated the commission on a draft 'bridging public health funding' recommendation that frames public health funding as a long‑term remedy for structural inequities, including harms tied to the construction of Interstate‑35.

Crookham said the draft begins by documenting how historical patterns of segregation and disinvestment have produced health disparities — particularly in East Austin — and proposes directing sustained revenue to public‑health priorities that address those inequities. She discussed examples of potential revenue vehicles and placeholder percentages (she referenced ranges such as 19.28% and 35% as discussion points), but emphasized the need for modeling and legal review before recommending a specific tax or share.

Commissioners urged practical analysis: Commissioner Rice and others recommended a revenue model and examples from other cities (the speaker referenced Dallas and cap‑and‑stitch projects) and warned that a percentage without a base model could be misleading. Staff and commissioners suggested pursuing assistance from UT economics and other local experts to estimate revenue potential and to identify legally available mechanisms (sales tax, property‑value capture or other incremental levies).

Crookham said she would continue research, include references to community health assessments and partner reports where practicable, and refine the language to avoid unintentionally excluding populations displaced from East Austin by gentrification.

No vote was taken; commissioners asked for more financial modeling and examples of peers that have implemented similar funding mechanisms.