Residents of Collin County could see a shift in their fire protection and EMS services due to a citizen petition advocating for the creation of the Emergency Services District (ESD) No. 1. The Collin County Commissioners Court is kicking the state-mandated protocols into gear, potentially paving the way for new emergency services structures across diverse unincorporated zones, reported Collin County official news.
The push for change has come after the county's voluntary financial support, to approximately $2 million annually, hit a snag when cities like Melissa and McKinney signaled the end to their respective fire service contracts. The county has long been contracting out its emergency services. Still, the terminations of such pacts, coupled with escalating costs and budgetary challenges, have fueled the exploration for long-term solutions such as an ESD.
What is an ESD? Simply put, it's a political subdivision greenlit by the Texas Legislature tasked with providing emergency services through property tax levies. This specific proposition for Collin County would see ESD No. 1 leverage contracts with municipalities rather than erecting its own fire stations, as laid out on the county's informational page.
So, where does this leave the residents? Those living in unincorporated parts of Collin County are automatically included in the proposed district. A public forum will unfurl on July 28 for their engagement on the matter, as written in a county release. However, citizens residing in an ETJ of cities that opted out won't have a say in the ESD election, nor will they be privy to the services provided by the ESD once operational — unless they submit a petition to their city, positioning themselves to opt into the ESD zone.
