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HomeLocal / Area NewsA MESSAGE FROM THE ESD TO THE RESIDENTS OF NORTH MONTGOMERY COUNTY

A MESSAGE FROM THE ESD TO THE RESIDENTS OF NORTH MONTGOMERY COUNTY

In an effort to properly inform the residents of both Montgomery County Emergency Services District No. 1 and 12 regarding the upcoming election, it is first necessary to explain what an emergency services district (ESD) is. Most residents know the two as Cut-N-Shoot Fire Department (MCESD 12) and North Montgomery County Fire Department (MCESD 1). An ESD is a political subdivision of the State of Texas similar to a school district, library district or hospital district. Depending on the ESD’s creation documents, an ESD can provide fire protection, emergency medical services or both. ESDs are governed by a board of five commissioners and the County Commissioner’s Court appoints the commissioners to a two year term. ESDs operate off of an ad-valorem property tax and approved sales and use tax. ESDs have become increasingly important in Texas as Local Governments, volunteers and citizens seek alternative ways to provide and improve emergency services for the residents.
Effective October 1, 2016 Montgomery County ESD No. 12 entered into an Interlocal Agreement with Montgomery County ESD No. 1. The purpose of this agreement was to provide less costly, yet more efficient fire protection services to both residents of ESD No. 12 and ESD No. 1. This has also provided all residents with the use of additional equipment and more experienced manpower for the utmost protection. We call this the “dating” phase and it has been going great! Unfortunately, due to the districts still being considered two separate entities there are some duplicated expenses and efforts from the Board of Commissioners and Administration currently taking place. The Board of Commissioners met and decided they would like to move forward with a possible merger to consolidate both districts into one. The merger will be placed on the November 7, 2017 ballot for both district’s residents to vote on. We are trying to make sure all residents are properly informed regarding what is taking place.
Moving forward, if the election passes, there will be a new board of commissioners appointed by Commissioners Court to evenly spread out across the new district. Two will come from Montgomery County ESD No. 12’s current district and three will come from Montgomery County ESD No. 1’s current district. Some residents may question how this merger will affect the current residents of both districts. The answer is, it will not affect the residents at all. Since the two districts have been in an interlocal agreement for the last year ALL residents have been receiving the quality of services they deserve. The merger will allow those duplicated expenses and efforts to be dissolved and allow the new district to continue to keep new equipment and help lower insurance rates for our residents.

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