Harris County Emergency Services District No. 16 2015 Sales and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Harris County Emergency Services District No.16 16810 Squyres Road, Klein, Texas 77379-7489

Harris County Emergency Services District No. 16

2015 Sales and Use Tax Election

2015 Sales and Use Tax Election

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www.hcesd16.org www.kleinfiredept.com

Harris County Emergency Services District No.16 16810 Squyres Road, Klein, Texas 77379-7489

2015 Sales and Use Tax Election

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District Boundaries

Harris County Emergency Services District No.16 16810 Squyres Road, Klein, Texas 77379-7489

The District Today

• The community has grown dramatically since the District was

formed in 1984

• High population density, high concentration of significant

target hazards, aging population with rapidly increasing EMS call volume

• 139,413 residents in a 50 mi2 area, with millions of vehicles

traveled on Cypress Creek Pkwy, State Highway 249, FM 2920, and soon Grand Parkway; each year

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Harris County Emergency Services District No.16 16810 Squyres Road, Klein, Texas 77379-7489

What is an Emergency Services District?

• Created under the Texas Health and Safety Code
• Chapter 775. Emergency Services Districts
• Elected Board of 5 Commissioners
• Political subdivision charged to support fire prevention and

control services, other emergency services.

• May either contract services or be the service provider

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Harris County Emergency Services District No.16 16810 Squyres Road, Klein, Texas 77379-7489

Klein Volunteer Fire Department

• Contracted as the Service Provider by the District
• Currently has an ISO Class 3 Department Rating
• Combination Department
• Volunteer Staffing
• Duty Crew Staffing
• Provides all-hazard emergency services
• Fire Suppression & Prevention
• Rescue
• Motor Vehicle Incidents
• Service Needs

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Harris County Emergency Services District No.16 16810 Squyres Road, Klein, Texas 77379-7489

ESD Funding

• ESD’s are allowed to raise revenue via ad valorem property

tax as approved by voters to a statewide cap of $.10 per $100 of property valuation

• Currently ESD #16 has been approved by voters to levy a

maximum property tax rate of $.05 per $100 of valuation

• Service funding burden falls on property owners within the

district

• Faced with increasing service expectations, many ESD’s

across Texas are challenged by the state cap on ad valorem rates

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Harris County Emergency Services District No.16 16810 Squyres Road, Klein, Texas 77379-7489

ESD Funding

• ESD’s are also permitted to collect a sales tax of up to 2%

with voter approval

• Sales taxes allow non-resident citizens, who are also users
• f emergency services, to help fund services
• Since Harris county is within the Metro Transit Authority,

Harris County ESD’s can collect a maximum of 1%

• City of Houston

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Harris County Emergency Services District No.16 16810 Squyres Road, Klein, Texas 77379-7489

City of Houston and MUDs

• City of Houston has entered into “Limited Purpose

Annexation” agreements with local Municipal Utility Districts

• City levies a 1% sales tax in retail areas of the MUD and

share in the revenue with the MUDs

• In exchange for the tax, the city agrees not to fully annex the

MUD territory for a specified period of time

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Harris County Emergency Services District No.16 16810 Squyres Road, Klein, Texas 77379-7489

2015 Sales and Use Tax Election

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City of Houston LPA

Blue = HC ESD 16 Boundaries Red = City of Houston LPA

Harris County Emergency Services District No.16 16810 Squyres Road, Klein, Texas 77379-7489

Areas for which Funding is Needed

• Building a Fire Station in

Gleannloch Farms

• Rebuilding an aging Fire Station in

Memorial Creek

• Remodel existing stations to allow

for 24 hour staffing

• Adding and replacing fire safety

equipment

• Adding and replacing fire

apparatus

• Reducing response times thru

enhanced staffing

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Harris County Emergency Services District No.16 16810 Squyres Road, Klein, Texas 77379-7489

Capital Expenses Operational Expenses

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Cost Factors

• Apparatus:
• Engine: $650,000
• Ladder: $1,200,000
• Tower/Ladder: $1,300,000
• Rescue: $660,000
• Apparatus Equipment:

$35,000

• Hydraulic Rescue Tools:

$28,000

• Handheld Radio: $1,174
• Self-Contained Breathing

Apparatus: $8,250

• Structural Firefighting PPE:

$3,100

• Thermal Imaging Camera:

$12,000

Harris County Emergency Services District No.16 16810 Squyres Road, Klein, Texas 77379-7489

Summary

• The proposed ESD #16 sales tax would equalize the tax rate

within the district to 8.25% (6.25% state, 1% Metro, 1% to either Houston/MUD or ESD)

• New revenues tied to local public safety services rather

than for the City of Houston

• Revenues will be directed towards servicing improving

infrastructure and service delivery

• ESD #16 would receive 1% of total taxable sales from any

new parcels that are not already tied to an existing LPA

• Retail areas that are already under current MUD/City of

Houston agreements would not see a tax increase

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Harris County Emergency Services District No.16 16810 Squyres Road, Klein, Texas 77379-7489

Questions?

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