Galveston County commissioners voted Monday to strip the Health District that serves the Greater Clear Lake area of control over its own back office, betting the move will save at least $500,000 a year.

The shared-services agreement would shift the health district's accounting, IT and human resources operations to the county, ABC13 reported. The deal is not final. The United Board of Health must still approve it at a special meeting Sept. 18.

The health district provides vaccines, public health services and ambulance coverage across Galveston County. Its ambulance service arm directly serves Clear Lake Shores along with Kemah, Bayou Vista, Hitchcock, Jamaica Beach, Galveston, the Village of Tiki Island and unincorporated areas of the county.

Commissioner Hank Dugie told ABC13 the agreement will save $500,000 annually. He said federal funding for the health district will not be affected. When asked how many employees could lose their jobs, Dugie said he could not say, adding that some positions slated for elimination are currently vacant.

The agreement states that positions "that duplicate existing County roles, create unnecessary overlap, or do not support the administrative functions transferred under this Agreement may be eliminated without replacement."

Kenneth Williams, a former county employee, spoke against the agreement at Monday's Commissioners Court meeting. He asked commissioners to table the vote so residents could get a fuller explanation.

"I'm asking you to please table it. Explain it fully to the people," Williams told commissioners, according to KPRC 2.

Williams also raised concerns about potential job cuts and federal funding. Commissioners did not table the item and proceeded with the unanimous vote. County Judge Mark Henry and Commissioners Darrell A. Apffel, Joe Giusti, Dugie and Robin Armstrong all voted in favor.

Commissioner Armstrong said in a written statement to ABC13 that the county's employee retirement pension plan is better than the health district's and predicted employees would benefit from the change. Armstrong also said he expects the savings to lead to increased services.

The restructuring comes days after GCHD announced that CEO Dr. Philip Keiser will retire Oct. 1, ending a decade with the organization. No source directly connected Keiser's departure to the commissioners' vote.

ABC13 reported that the health district did not respond to a request for comment about Monday's vote. The United Board of Health is scheduled to vote on the agreement next.