Ricardo “Rica” Calderon announces Candidacy for Re-Election to Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors
Ricardo “Rica” Calderon has authorized the Eagle Pass Business Journal to announce his candidacy for re-election to the Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors at the Tuesday, November 8, 2016 General Election, commencing with Early Voting on Monday, October 24, 2016 through Friday, November 4, 2016 at the City of Eagle Pass Multi-Purpose Center.
Ricardo “Rica” Calderon is a champion for financial accountability and open and transparent public government of the local Maverick County Hospital District. As a Board of Director of the Maverick County Hospital District, Calderon oversees the approval of policies to ensure that the Hospital District provides the best health care services to over 60,000 Maverick County residents, particularly the indigent and needy patients.
The Maverick County Hospital District currently offers the following health care services to Maverick Countians: the Medical Financial Assistance Program (MFAP); the Physician Specialty Group; the Oncology (Cancer) Treatment Center; the Breast and Cervical Cancer Services; the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Services Program; the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program; and other programs.
During his four years on the Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors, Calderon has been a vocal advocate for financial accountability of the annual budget of the Maverick County Hospital District and the fair and reasonable imposition of property ad valorem tax rate by the District to taxpayers. For instance, Calderon has voted against the approval of the four previous annual budgets of the Hospital District because they all had a financial deficit, that is, operating costs are greater than revenues, requiring that the District have to use its reserves to balance the budget each year. Calderon is an advocate that the Hospital District Board of Directors are required to approve a balanced budget, not a deficit budget. In 2015-2016, the Maverick County Hospital District had a budget deficit of $566,066 while in 2014-2015 the District had a budget deficit of $2,297,565, in 2013-2014 the District had a budget deficit of $2,490,773,, and in 2012–2013 the District had a budget deficit of $1,636,900, in 2011-2012 the District had a budget deficit of $600,000, and in 2010-2011 the District had a budget deficit of. $1,658,000.
As a matter of fact, the Hospital District has had a budget deficit for the past 15 years dating back to 2000 when a previous Board of Directors sold the taxpayers-owned Maverick County Memorial Hospital to Universal Health Services,Inc. of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania D/B/A Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center. Consequently, these annual financial budget deficits are quickly reducing the Hospital District’s reserves, which may run out in the near future and require a significant tax increase. Calderon opposes the Board approving a deficit budget contrary to state law and the best interests of Maverick County taxpayers.
Calderon proposed a tax decrease this year from $0.09 cents per $100 valuation to $0.08 per $100 valuation as tax relief to Maverick County taxpayers due to the exceedingly high and unconscionable property ad valorem tax appraisals done by the Maverick County Appraisal District, but his fellow Board members denied the tax rate decrease and approved to keep it at the same rate as last year (9 cents per $100 valuation). Calderon opposed the Board’s $0.09 cents per $100 valuation. Often Calderon is the lone Board member to vote against deficit budgets and increasing taxes. He takes his responsibility and obligations seriously for his fellow 60,000 Maverick County residents.
Calderon is also an ardent advocate on the Hospital District Board of Directors for Open and Transparent Government of all business conducted by the Maverick County Hospital District pursuant to the Texas Open Meetings Act and the Texas Public Information Act. Maverick County taxpayers are entitled by state law to have access and possession of copies of all business transactions and policies enacted by the Board of Directors and Administration of the Maverick County Hospital District.
Most importantly, Calderon is an advocate for the best health care services be provided to Maverick County residents, especially the indigent and needy residents, through the various health care services and/or programs offered by the Maverick County Hospital District. Calderon stated that “the Maverick County Hospital District is blessed to have the most professional and dedicated Physicians, health care workers, and staff with a commitment to providing the best health care services to our 60,000 residents, including the indigent and needy patients.”
Calderon brings new and innovative policies to the Hospital District. Board of Directors such as the founding of a Maverick County Health Careers Institute for Maverick County students and residents to allow them to obtain a health career in Eagle Pass instead of out of town; the aggressive recruitment of local Maverick County students in medical schools an/or doing medical residency programs, health services students, and health care administration; and provide financial assistance such as scholarships and/or loans to Maverick County students studying to be a Physician or Health Services career in exchange for their commitment to return to practice in Maverick County.
Calderon is a graduate of Eagle Pass High School with highest honors in 1978, received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania with Cum Laude honors in 1982, and received his Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law in 1985, receiving the Arthur T. Vanderbilt Medal Award for Extraordinary Contribution to NYU School of Law.
Calderon is a solo-practitioner attorney in Eagle Pass, Texas, operating the Law Office of Ricardo E. Calderon and is a pro-bono Publisher of the Eagle Pass Business Journal. He is married to the former Diana Escontrias and they have two children.
Ricardo “Rica” Calderon respectfully requests your vote, your family’s vote, and your friends vote for re-election to the Maverick County Hospital District Board of Directors at the Tuesday, November 8th General Election, as well as in the Early Voting Period starting on Monday, October 24, 2016 through Friday, November 4th, at the City of Eagle Pass Multi-Purpose Center.
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