Creation of Emergency Services District

Emergency Services Districts are created to ensure adequate funding for the Emergency Service Providers in the District. ESDs are created according to the provisions of Texas HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, TITLE 9. SAFETY, SUBTITLE B. EMERGENCIES, CHAPTER 775. EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICTS(get a pdf file of this). Bexar County has less than 3 million residents, so falls under Section 755.034, which specifies that Commissioners are appointed by the Commissioners Court. ESD #4 Commissioners have been appointed, and serve staggered two year terms such that two or three Commissioners will be appointed each subsequent year. In more populous counties, Section 755.0345 specifies that ESD Commisioners are elected.

Some of the ESD #4 Service Area is included in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of San Antonio. Therefore, the City of San Antonio also had to approve the creation of the ESD #4 (ordnance). Provisions of the agreement with the City of San Antonio were included on the ballot (See Ballot Text). The agreement with the City of San Antonio contains provisions limiting indebtedness of Emergency Services Districts, and establishing compliance with San Antonio Fire Department specifications for new trucks and stations obtained by the ESD.

An ESD has limitations on indebtedness imposed by Chapter 755, Section 755.071. The District may not contract for an indebtedness in any fiscal year which exceeds the revenues anticipated plus funds on hand for that year. According to Texas Statute, the ESD Board can have indebtedness for which the annual payments can be scheduled from anticipated revenues, or the Board may issue bonds for long term projects. The rules in Bexar County are more restrictive following the agreement with the City of San Antonio.

Last Updated:Sunday, 23-Aug-2009 17:21:49 EDT

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