Galveston County Daily News, Nov. 2, 2008 Galveston County residents face a difficult question: Would they pay a tax to restore UTMB health services to pre-Ike conditions? Elected officials supporting a public hospital district are unwilling to pose that question to constituents recovering from the storm. Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas, County Judge Jim Yarbrough and state Rep. Craig Eiland all say formation of a hospital district to help pay for health care, especially for the poor, deserves serious consideration. But they all say they need more time and clear direction from medical branch leaders before selling the plan. "This is not the time to ask the citizens to consider a health district due to ongoing recovery efforts, which I believe we have to take care of right now," Thomas said. UTMB Dr. Ben Raimer said although it's difficult to ask people to pay more taxes on properties devalued by the storm, that shouldn't prevent local leaders from offering a strategy.