Finance
The Central Health system strives to provide access to high-quality and affordable health care to the Travis County residents who need it most. The system is reliant on taxpayer funds to achieve this goal, which makes accountability and transparency with the public very important.
The Central Health Finance Department oversees budgeting, financial planning, accounting, and reporting to ensure decision-making is based on responsible use of taxpayer funds. This is part of the Finance Department’s commitment to using resources wisely and maximizing every dollar to support patient care and community health.
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Fiscal Year 2026 approved Budget and Tax Rate
Tax RateSources Summary – Attachment AUses Summary – Attachment B
FY26 Tax Info
Average Homestead |
FY26 Approved |
Percent |
|---|---|---|
Maintenance & Operations Tax Rate |
11.3569 |
96% |
Debt Service Tax Rate |
0.4454 |
4% |
Total Tax Rate |
11.8023 |
100% |
Homestead Exemption |
65 & Older |
Disability |
20% (maximum allowable by state law) |
$185,200 |
$185,200 |
Average Homestead Impact |
FY26 Approved |
|
Average Taxable Homestead Value |
$515,433 |
|
Tax Bill |
$608.33 |
|
Average Taxable Homestead Property Tax will increase by $64 |
FY 2026 Approved Budget and Uses Summary – Attachment A
DESCRIPTION |
FY26 APPROVED BUDGET |
|---|---|
TAX RATE |
.118023 |
FTEs |
1048.8 |
Beginning Balance (Contingency Reserve) |
451,192,875 |
UNRESTRICTED REVENUE |
|
Property Taxes |
378,061,940 |
Lease Revenue |
10,424,005 |
Tobacco Litigation Settlement |
5,000,000 |
Patient Revenue |
1,000,000 |
Other |
25,900,000 |
TOTAL UNRESTRICTED REVENUE |
420,385,945 |
RESTRICTED REVENUE |
|
Beginning Balance |
1,706,834 |
All Restricted Revenue |
1,833,333 |
Available Restricted Funds |
3,540,167 |
TOTAL ALL REVENUE |
423,926,112 |
Available Resources |
875,118,987 |
UNRESTRICTED EXPENSE |
|
Healthcare Delivery |
433,984,684 |
Administration |
46,639,507 |
UT Affiliation Agreement |
35,000,000 |
Other Financing Uses |
37,045,142 |
TOTAL UNRESTRICTED EXPENSES |
552,399,333 |
RESTRICTED EXPENSE |
|
All Restricted Expenses |
3,540,167 |
TOTAL ALL EXPENSES |
555,939,500 |
Appropriated Contingency Reserve Budget |
319,179,488 |
TOTAL USES WITH ENDING BALANCE |
875,118,987 |
RESERVES Balances |
|
Public Health Center Reserve |
12,000,000 |
Emergency Reserves |
68,165,232 |
FY 2026 Approved Budget Sources and Uses Summary – Attachment B
DESCRIPTION |
FY 2026 APPROVED BUDGET |
|---|---|
HEALTHCARE DELIVERY |
|
Network Healthcare Services |
|
Primary Care: Medical, Dental, & Behavioral Health |
103,446,258 |
Specialty Care: including Specialty Dental |
37,348,000 |
Specialty Care: Behavioral Health |
40,274,000 |
Post Acute Care |
9,350,000 |
Pharmacy |
19,500,000 |
Community Health Care Initiatives Fund |
1,000,000 |
Purchased Healthcare Services |
210,918,258 |
Direct Healthcare Services |
|
Therapy and Counseling |
2,115,947 |
Psychiatry & Addiction Care |
3,221,828 |
Cardiology |
2,442,156 |
Endocrinology |
883,764 |
Gastroenterology |
4,266,275 |
Nephrology |
1,449,087 |
Neurology |
354,559 |
Podiatry |
2,364,183 |
Pulmonology |
1,915,923 |
Rheumatology |
2,041,389 |
Palliative Care |
1,027,374 |
Pharmacy |
2,980,011 |
Transitions of Care |
11,598,960 |
Medical Respite |
10,659,536 |
Diagnostics and Other services |
8,545,939 |
Patient Navigation |
7,563,164 |
Clinical Support |
17,898,272 |
Direct Healthcare Services Total |
81,599,137 |
Total Healthcare Services |
292,517,395 |
Healthcare Operations & Support |
|
Salary and Benefits |
52,476,460 |
ACA Healthcare Premium Assistance Programs |
19,671,820 |
Legal |
– |
Consulting |
970,000 |
Purchased Services |
10,305,800 |
Outreach and Education |
5,348,420 |
Information Technology & Services |
13,764,300 |
Leases, Utilities, Security, and Maintenance |
14,181,693 |
Travel, training, and professional development |
1,422,100 |
Other operating expenses |
864,370 |
Debt service – principal retirement |
8,320,000 |
Debt service – interest |
6,142,326 |
Transfer to Sendero Risk-Based Capital |
8,000,000 |
Total Healthcare Operations & Support |
141,467,289 |
Total Healthcare Delivery |
433,984,684 |
ADMINISTRATION |
|
Salary and Benefits |
28,252,193 |
Legal |
5,505,000 |
Consulting |
3,246,250 |
Purchased Services |
1,532,666 |
Outreach and Education |
539,580 |
Information Technology & Services |
2,009,155 |
Leases, Utilities, Security, and Maintenance |
195,000 |
Travel, training and professional development |
1,370,085 |
Other operating expenses |
663,875 |
Appraisal District Svcs |
1,841,217 |
Tax Collection Expense |
1,214,486 |
Total Administration |
46,369,507 |
UT Affiliation Agreement |
35,000,000 |
OTHER FINANCING USES |
|
Transfer to capital projects |
15,000,000 |
Transfer to Public Health Center Reserve |
12,000,000 |
Transfer to emergency reserve |
10,045,142 |
RESTRICTED USES |
|
All Restricted Expenses |
3,540,167 |
RESERVES |
|
Contingency Reserves |
319,179,487 |
TOTAL EXPENSES |
875,118,986 |
In accordance with the settlement agreement and Senate Bill 1827, 87h Texas Legislature, uses are restricted to projects to remediate the opioid crisis.
Departmental information
Purchasing
Travis County Healthcare District d/b/a Central Health (“Central Health”) contracts and purchases goods and services that are necessary to provide for the health care needs of those we serve.
To become a vendor to Central Health, visit our Purchasing page, then register with BidNet Direct at no charge to be electronically notified of potential procurements and to submit proposals in response to requests.
Meet our Chief Financial Officer: Jeff Knodel
Jeff Knodel serves as the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Central Health. Jeff originally came to Central Health as the Regional Healthcare Partnership Director, directing the role of Central Health as the anchor entity for Regional Healthcare Partnership 7 of the 1115 Medicaid Waiver in Texas.
