County voters approve sales tax increase to fund CT health screenings

County voters approve sales tax increase to fund CT health screenings

Voters in Broward County, Florida, have approved a new sales tax increase, which would raise millions to help fund CT health screenings and other services.

Nearly 55% of voters on Nov. 4 endorsed a plan to increase sales taxes by a quarter of one center, with the tax lasting for five years. The dollars raised will be used to fund free cardiac and cancer screenings for the uninsured or underinsured, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.

"We are the only county in the country that now provides this preventative health screening for its residents," Mark Bogen, outgoing Broward County mayor and county commissioner, who championed the initiative, said accounting to the newspaper.

"I thank all the Broward residents that realized the importance of this project and voted for it," he added.

Broward County first launched the screening program as a pilot in 2023. It provides eligible residents with imaging to detect heart problems and other cancer-related health issues, pinpointing problems earlier to improve outcomes. The Florida Panthers foundation later contributed $1 million last year to support the county-funded, $10...