WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS HEAR PRESENTATION ON EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICT FOR CHAPPELL HILL, MEYERSVILLE VFDs
Washington County Commissioners received information today (Tuesday) about the possibility of a new Emergency Services District (ESD) to help fund fire protection services on the east end of the county.
Emergency Services District supporting the Chappell
Hill and Meyersville Volunteer Fire Departments.
The area of the ESD would align with the service
area of the two departments, not counting the City
of Brenham's extraterritorial jurisdiction.
The ESD would support the Chappell Hill and Meyersville Volunteer Fire Departments, whose presentation cited rising call volume and ever-increasing costs to provide services as the main reasons for the proposal.
The two fire departments would receive funding via the levying of an ad valorem tax of no more than 10 cents per $100 valuation on residents living within the boundaries of either department’s service territory, excluding the City of Brenham’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Whether the ESD is implemented would be determined on the outcome of an election, which itself would need to be called by commissioners. The timeframe to start a petition to have an election called begins in January.
Dustin Brown, Chappell Hill VFD captain and ESD committee chair, said the stable funding that would come from an ESD would be invaluable to helping the departments meet current fire safety standards and recruit and retain department members.
ESDs are governed by a five-member board that is appointed by the county and whose members serve staggered two-year terms.
Department Captain and Emergency Services
District committee chair, gives a presentation
to Washington County Commissioners on
Tuesday about a proposal to create an ESD
to support the Chappell Hill and Meyersville
VFDs.
Based on the approximate property value within the two department’s territories of $778 million and a tax rate of 10 cents per $100, the estimated revenue collected – without considering property exemptions – would come out to $778,355 annually. Sales and use tax revenue could also be an option, although no figures were presented at the meeting.
Yearly funding, which would be subject to change based on fluctuating property valuations, would be used to replace outdated vehicles and equipment, purchase new gear, and hire paid personnel to staff the stations during the day when volunteer levels are low. In the Chappell Hill VFD’s case, it could also go toward the building of another fire station.
Of note is that should the departments be successful in starting an ESD, they would no longer be included in the pool of other VFDs that receive funding from the county. In addition, the ESD funding would strictly be for the fire departments, so if the ESD is approved, the Chappell Hill VFD’s partnership with Washington County EMS, who has a location there to aid in public safety response, would need to be discussed further.
Commissioners encouraged the two departments to be as specific as possible in their budgeting for future plans and how this funding will help them achieve their goals, in order to ensure that this method is sustainable and to be transparent with the public.
Brown said there are plans to hold a series of town hall meetings for the public to learn more and ask questions. He also invited anyone wanting to know more to email wacounty.esdone.questions@gmail.com.
Click here to view the presentation given at Tuesday's meeting. (Note: Figures regarding budgetary costs, taxation, revenues and exemptions are estimates and are subject to change.)
Clean up your act or get a new one. So when you have this vote lets see how many want this money pit air ambulance? We would have lots of funding to spread around without it and then some. Let the voters decide on this please. No more tax on pie in the sky! The last thing we need is more boards of any kind. Just cut out the waste and share with the VFD not that hard.
The voters in that area are going to have the opportunity to decide with a vote in November. I’m a huge fire department supporter and the good is that, the money involved in this would not go towards the helicopter. It would just be for the fire departments. The ten fire departments across the county are budgeted for $465,000 for all ten of those departments so they get about $46,500 per department.
Sounds like somebody is trying to make a nice easy paycheck. While just sitting around a “volunteer” fire dept. What will these paid “volunteers” be doing while sitting around the station? And how many? Just collecting some peoples hard earned money by adding another tax…
I think it’s interesting how negative you are about this, and you probably don’t know a thing about it. If I had to guess, those paid staff would probably do the same thing other fire departments do nationwide. Prepare for calls to come in since that’s what firefighters are “paid” to do. Also, from my understanding, the word “volunteer” is no longer a thing anymore since no one wants to do it. What happens when you run out of “volunteers”?
Chappell hill VFD didn’t waste any time requesting $38,830 back in February of this year. This was for an engine replacement on a fire truck. Exactly why wasn’t that covered on insurance? Maybe lack of maintenance? Why aren’t the other 8 county departments calling for the same ESD if the problem is finding volunteers?
Insurance was consulted by the department and by the county and both determined it was not covered. Maintenance was not the issue. The money was requested because the county association pushed them to ask. Other departments in the county don’t want to try it because of the ridicule they have received in the past just from mentioning it.
You know what happens when you run out of volunteers??? Your programs die…your country dies…that’s one of the problems in our society…people are taught to be all about themselves…let everyone else take care of their own needs. Maybe ask the many military “volunteers “ that question….wonder what this world would be like if my Dad and millions other hadn’t “volunteered “ during WWII??? Would we have youth activities in this Community without our many “volunteers “? What about Boys & Girls Club of Washington County…any idea how many “volunteer “ there? The Government never performs as well as “Volunteers “…we should be teaching that in schools instead of it’s ok for boys to declare they’re girls. Serving others is what we should stand for.
Probably the same as the city of brenham fire department, which is a combination department that started as volunteer. An esd could actually benefit the city of brenham. With a mutual aid agreement between the two, the city could save millions from having to hire more personnel and building stations. The esd could be spread over the county and respond to calls in the city as well. City taxes wouldn’t suffer because of it. And a county wide esd would generate more money for a fire department than city budget could ever afford for the city fire department.
Spoken like someone who doesn’t have a clue what they’re talking about. They would be there and ready to jump on a truck in seconds and get to your fire in minutes in the middle of the day when all of the volunteers are at work so your house doesn’t burn down.
How nice of you to show your gratitude to firefighters everywhere, paid or volunteer. If the paycheck was so easy, then why aren’t you doing it?