Frequently Asked Questions

What do the letters ESD mean?

– Emergency Service District

What is an ESD?

– An ESD is a governmental entity that delivers fire and emergency medical services, often in rural or unincorporated areas.

– The Texas Legislature established ESDs as the preferred method for delivering these services.

– An ESD is a grassroots effort, starting with a petition from at least 100 voters in the proposed area.

How is an ESD created?

– A petition is presented to the County Commissioners Court by voters in the proposed district.

– An election is called for the voters within the proposed area.

– If a majority of voters approve, the ESD is established as a taxing and governmental entity.

How are ESDs funded?

– ESDs are primarily funded by taxes, with a property tax of up to $0.10 per $100 of assessed value.

– ESDs receive no funding from the State or County.

How are ESDs governed? 

– An ESD is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners, who are appointed to two-year terms by the County Commissioners Court.

– The board must hold monthly public meetings, and its budgets and tax rates are subject to Truth-in-Taxation requirements.

– ESDs must also comply with state laws for reporting and providing public information.

– ESDs are also required by law to file an annual report with the Texas Department of Agriculture.

– ESDs are subject to a few other external oversight requirements. They are governed by chapter 775 of the Texas Government Code.

What services do ESDs provide?

– Emergency fire protection and education.

– Emergency medical services (EMS), including medical first responder services.

Why are ESDs formed?

– Cities in rural areas sometimes terminate agreements to provide services to residents in unincorporated areas, creating a need for the residents to form their own district. 

– ESDs allow communities to decide on the level of fire and EMS services they want to fund. 

– Rural areas grow in population and require a greater need for emergency service than a volunteer department can provide.

Will citizens be allowed to vote on the formation of the ESD?

– Yes, the next possible election will be held in November 2026.

Are there other ESDs in Texas?

– Yes. In fact, some counties in Texas are home to numerous emergency services districts. Bexar County, for example, has 12 of them, and Harris County has more than 30. As of 2021, there were 340 emergency services districts in Texas in 90 counties.

What is the history of ESDs in Texas?

– Emergency Services Districts in Texas have their origins in a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 1949. Farmers and rural property owners were concerned about property damage caused by fire and encouraged the Texas Legislature to propose a constitutional amendment allowing rural areas to create Rural Fire Protection Districts.

– By the late 1980s, population growth in rural areas and the move to becoming suburbs encouraged the examination of a better-funded form of fire protection districts. In 1987, the Texas Legislature proposed a constitutional amendment creating Emergency Services Districts with broader powers and the ability to levy a higher tax. Voters in ESDs were able to approve a tax rate up to $0.10 per $100 valuation.

How do I compute my proposed tax share for the ESD?

– The formula is straightforward. The maximum tax is $.10 for every $1000.00 of property value. 

– Example: If your property is valued at $100,000, your ESD tax will be $100 per year. The same formula holds true for any amount of property value. For a property value of $500,000, the ESD tax will be $500 per year, if the maximum tax rate is assessed.  

What are the initial goals of the proposed ESD?

The official goals and direction will be set by the ESD Board of Commissioners; however, the general idea is to operate a full-time staff and upgrade the equipment and the fire station:

1. A full-time staff for each of the three shifts. Initially, a 3-man crew per shift. 
2. An upgrade and remodel for the current fire station (Station 1). 
3. A new brush truck.
4. Begin planning for a second fire station located closer to Interstate 30 (Station 2).

What is the history of ESD proposals for Hunt County?

In 2020, there was an effort to create a Hunt County-wide ESD. This proposal was not well-received and had several design flaws. Some of the issues were the amount of coverage required, the difference between various sections of Hunt County, and the conflicting management ideas behind making it work. The proposal failed.

In early 2024, the idea was brought to the Hunt County Commissioners to create a Caddo Mills area ESD. This was a welcomed concept, and work began on its formation. The district map was surveyed; the petition was created; and the requisite signatures were gathered. However, the process broke down in the final execution of legal and state-mandated procedures. With a few steps in the required process left undone, time ran out; and the deadline was not met for the Commissioners Court to vote for the measure to be added to the November 2025 ballot.

The next opportunity for the ESD vote will be in the November 2026 election. Mark your calendars now!

What happens if the proposed ESD is not formed? 

If the proposed ESD is not formed, the Caddo Mills Volunteer Fire Department will continue as an underfunded volunteer effort responsible for a coverage area of 84 square miles, responding to over 1400 calls per year, and more as the community grows.

This will continue until the assets are potentially acquired by the City of Caddo Mills and then turned into a municipal fire department. At that point, the fire department will likely begin concentrating its efforts within the city of Caddo Mills. Its priority will be calls within the city limits. No one involved wants this to happen.