Val Verde County sets aside $150,000 of hotel‑occupancy funds for regional medical center upgrades

Val Verde County’s Commissioners Court authorized setting aside $150,000 from city hotel‑occupancy tax funds to support a regional medical center’s project to upgrade HVAC and air‑filtration systems and furnish a specialized room for cancer care, contingent on legal review and binding stipulations.

The Judge summarized the facility’s project scope: a total project cost the court discussed in the meeting was roughly $1.1–$1.2 million, of which about $373,000 is for upgraded air‑scrubbing HVAC work and about $120,000 for furnishings for a patient room. County officials described prior local fundraising of roughly $150,000 and proposed matching that sum with $150,000 from the county’s city hotel‑occupancy tax funds. The Judge emphasized the funds discussed would not be county property‑tax dollars and said legal counsel would draft stipulations to ensure funds are used only for the agreed purposes.

Commissioners moved and seconded a motion to set the money aside, specifying a follow‑up step with the county attorney to define conditions and ensure accountability before any payment is made. The motion passed.

Why this matters: The funding would help a regional medical center install air‑filtration and HVAC improvements intended to support safe cancer care and expand local access to specialized services. Commissioners said they wanted legal safeguards to ensure the money is applied to the project components described.

Next steps: County staff will coordinate with legal counsel to draft stipulations and return details before releasing funds.