McKinney | August 2025

Government

BY SHELBIE HAMILTON

New emergency services district to be on Collin County ballot

Collin County residents in select unincorporated areas will consider the creation of an Emergency Services District during the November election. Collin County’s commissioners unanimously approved calling for the election at a July 28 meeting, roughly six months after the county judge received a petition calling for the creation of Emergency Services District No. 1, or the ESD. If approved, the created district would have an associated property tax that would be used to fund fire protection and ambulance services to residents within the district’s boundaries. An ESD is used to provide fire and ambulance service in the county’s unincorporated areas. Currently, there are over 350 ESDs in Texas, and they provide fire protection and ambulance service in the unincorporated areas of counties, whether by contracting for services or creating their own departments. Rather than operating its own fire department or ambulance service, the emergency response services funded by the proposed ESD would be provided through contracts with cities and volun- teer fire departments, the county’s website states. The current situation Collin County cities and towns with unincor- porated areas are currently providing emergency services to those areas, which is partially funded through the county. The county budget includes about $2 million annually to contribute to the costs of fire and ambulance services, although counties are not required by state law to provide emergency services in unincorporated areas. County Judge Chris Hill said the current fire services contract between the county and 21

firefighting agencies is renewed annually, with agencies being allowed to leave the agreement with 30-days notice. In October 2024, officials from three municipalities notified county officials of their intention to leave the contract in a year, citing the need for more funding, Hill said. This later sparked the creation of a petition for the establishment of the ESD. The impact The proposition for the creation of the ESD will be on the ballot of any Collin County resident in the unincorporated areas of cities that opted in for the program. If a city opted in and the ESD passes in November, it would create a property tax for residents in that unincorporated area that will enable them to have access to emergency services. If a town opted out and the ESD passes, resi- dents in the unincorporated areas will not receive services from the county because it will not be considered part of the emergency district. The city would also not receive funding. The city could choose to service those areas without county funding though it will not be required to. Looking ahead If the proposed ESD is approved by the voters, the district’s first fiscal year and associated con- tracted services would begin Oct. 1, 2026. County commissioners would be responsible for appointing a five-person board of commissioners for the district, made up of individuals who own land in the district. The commissioners would also set the initial tax rate for the district, which will be no more than $0.10 per $100 in assessed value. Collin County Administrator Yoon Kim said at the July 28 meeting that initial estimates show

Who it affects The proposed district will affect residents in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Collin County cities that opted in to participate.

Cities whose officials opted in to participate:

• Blue Ridge • Celina • Farmersville • Fate • Josephine

• McKinney • Melissa • Murphy • New Hope,

• Nevada • Parker • Princeton • Prosper • Royse City • Weston • Wylie

including the entire city limits

• Lavon • Lowry

Crossing

Cities whose officials opted out of participation:

• Allen • Anna • Fairview • Frisco

• Garland • Hebron • Lucas • Plano*

• St. Paul • Trenton • Van Alstyne

*THE CITY OF PLANO WAS NOT APPLICABLE IN THE CHOICE TO OPT IN OR OUT BECAUSE THERE IS NO EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION WITHIN THE CITY’S LIMITS. SOURCE: COLLIN COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

that, at a $0.10 tax rate, the annual tax revenue for the district would amount to about $9.5 million. County Commissioner Cheryl Williams also noted that residents within the proposed district that live in a Municipal Utility District, or MUD, would not be subject to the ESD tax to avoid double taxation due to existing agreements for service. Hill said in the event the ESD fails, he would be supportive of continuing to invest the amount currently budgeted to provide the service, but noted firefighting agencies and municipalities may not continue to accept that funding. “Our objective is to have no gap,” Hill said of the county’s fire service. “Our goal as a body is to see seamless coverage countywide.”

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