ESD Creation Election: Public Info session Thursday, Oct. 17th at 6:30 PM at Uvalde Downtown Fire Station

Press release from Uvalde County area’s volunteer fire departments

(10-17-24)  – The Volunteer Fire Departments (VFDs) announce the proposition for the creation of an Emergency Services District (ESD) to be on the election ballot for Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

Proposition B, if so approved by voters, would authorize the creation of Uvalde County Emergency Services District No. 3 (UCESD 3) and a levy of a tax not to exceed ten cents ($0.10) per $100 valuation on property to be captured by the District for the purposes of funding fire protection within Uvalde County, provided by the Uvalde, Sabinal. Knippa, and Regan Wells VFD.

The VFDs have been working with the Uvalde County Commissioners Court and submitted a petition with more than 150 signatures from the community for review and approval earlier this year. On August 12, 2024, Uvalde County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to approve the request to allow residents to vote on the proposition in the upcoming 2024 election. Since then, the VFDs administration and volunteer membership have been working to address the issues facing the possible ESD by developing a strategic ten (10) year funding plan. The three overarching goals outlined in the long-range plan are:

• Additional Personnel
• Expand training and retention programs to grow and maintain volunteer membership
• Purchase and maintain apparatus and equipment related to response requirements within Uvalde County

 To fully realize these goals, it requires additional funding beyond what can be raised by fundraiser efforts and county contributions.

By creating an ESD, an appointed board of five (5) Commissioners would be able to directly assist in the funding of the VFDs, working in coordination with the Board and Command Staff to realize the goals of the strategic plan through the levy of a property tax, which would be set and reviewed annually in the best interest of both resident taxpayers and the fire response needs within the ESD boundaries as a whole. All modern ESDs are normally created with an authorized property tax rate cap of $0.10/$100 valuation, but the initial rate could be less as determined by the Board of Commissioners once they are appointed by the County Commissioners Court.

Uvalde, Sabinal, Knippa, and the Regan Wells Volunteer Fire Departments provide fire suppression and rescue services to an estimated 24,844 residents who live and work within the 1,323 square miles located in Uvalde County, Texas.

If you would like more information about this topic, please call Michael Willett at 832-558-5714 x203 or email m.willett@touchstonedistrictservices.com. 4