We're making an effort to keep an eye on government misspending here at Texas Watchdog, but we'd be remiss if we didn't tip our hat to public officials who seem to be trying to keep the public -- and family budgets -- in mind.

In that regard, we wanted to make note of an item written up by Jay Ermis, the Huntville Item's managing editor. He noted in yesterday's editions that the Walker County Hospital District Board approved its $5.7 million budget for next year -- and lowered the tax rate on the residents there to boot.

Ermis quotes the group's chairman Bob Hardy about the lower tax rate.

“Since 2004, we have been reducing the tax rate,” he said.

Indeed, the newspaper reports that hospital district's tax rate prior to the $0.1537-per-$100-of-valuation rate adopted Wednesday was $0.1600 in 2007, $0.1720 in 2006 and $0.1825 in 2005.