Election
BY ELISABETH JIMENEZ
North Hays County Emergency Services District No. 1—serving the Dripping Springs, Driftwood and Henly areas—is asking voters to approve a 60% increase from the current tax rate. The EMS district officially called for the election on Aug. 12. The North Hays EMS board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2025-26 tax rate of $0.05 per $100 valuation during an Aug. 12 meeting that included a public hearing on the tax rate. The current tax rate stands at $0.03107 per $100 valuation. With the proposed increase, that’s a 60.93% hike. For a home with a taxable value of $500,000, the proposed increase Hays emergency services tax hike on ballot
Funding asks
What’s next
The proposed increased tax rate would be used to:
Hire additional medics
North Hays EMS relies on property and sales taxes for revenues, as well as revenue streams from patient transports. If the proposition fails, North Hays EMS will maintain current service levels, with medics working about 834 hours of overtime a year, according to the release. This could result in the district using capital reserves or operating at a deficit, the release states, potentially impacting response times. In April this year, North Hays EMS split from San Marcos Hays County EMS, partly due to the North Hays EMS board wanting taxpayer dollars to go into their service area, Chief Bob Luddy said. Earlier this year, Luddy said he did not anticipate negative impacts on the budget due to the additional expenses needed to fund the transitional period.
Establish a fourth shift to reduce annual overtime to 312 hours per medic from 834 hours
Maintain 24/7 ambulance coverage
Align response times with national standards
Maintain equipment and ambulances
SOURCE: NORTH HAYS COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NO. 1/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
would result in an additional $100 annually, or approximately $8.33 per month. The proposed rate is greater than the voter- approval tax rate and the de minimis rate, triggering the need for voter approval. If approved by voters, the increase would fund staffing needs for EMS response capabilities and reduce overtime for emergency medical personnel, according to a news release.
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