By Mary Ann Roser

More than 400 Austin-area doctors are backing a Nov. 6 ballot proposition for a big increase in Travis County property taxes to support services for a planned medical school and other programs, a political action committee said Wednesday.

"I think Proposition 1 is about health care for families, and doctors are interested in that," said Lynda Rife, a spokeswoman for the Keep Austin Healthy PAC.

She said her release of the doctors' names was the culmination of a grass-roots effort that took about a week with doctors contacting each other and expressing support for the proposition.

Central Health, which oversees health care services for indigent residents of Travis County, is asking voters to approve a 63 percent increase in property taxes from 7.89 cents per $100 of assessed value to 12.9 cents. The money raised, estimated at $54 million, would pay for health services provided by medical school faculty, residents and students, as well as help pay for a teaching hospital site and other health care programs.

"Our doctors understand how this initiative will help raise funds that will be used to further enhance care, improve the efficiency of care, and provide greater access to care for patients in our community," Dr. Norman Chenven, founder of Austin Regional Clinic, said in a statement.

Michael Rotman, a retired Austin cardiologist, said he fears duplicating services and driving up costs.

Contact Mary Ann Roser at 445-3619

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400 doctors say they support a tax increase for medical school services in Austin