WHAT IS AN EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT (ESD)

An Emergency Services District (ESD) is a grassroots government created by voters in an area to fund fire protection and control, emergency medical services, or both. More than 300 districts are operating in Texas covering about 10 million Texas residents and businesses, and more are added at almost every uniform election date.

The governing statute for an ESD is Chapter 775 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. ESDs are funded through property taxes based on appraisals of real and personal property and fees adopted by the District for specific services. ESDs like Llano County ESD # 5 usually contract with service providers (e.g. Sunrise Beach VFD or others) for the provision of firefighting and emergency services.  Llano County Emergency Services District #5 contracts for the provision of emergency services in response to any emergency situation in accordance with the authority granted to emergency services districts under Chapter 775 of the Texas Health & Safety Code. These contracts may include services for firefighting facilities, fire extinguishment services, emergency rescue, or emergency medical first response by a Fire Department First Responder Organization, or for reciprocal operation of services (referred to as mutual aid or auto-aid). 

ESDs have primary authority over service provision in the areas they cover. In essence, if an ESD is authorized to provide a certain service in an area, the ESD is the ultimate authority over provision of that service in the area. The Texas Legislature has stated that ESDs are the preferred method for emergency services provision in rural areas.

A Board of five commissioners governs Llano County ESD #5. ESD Commissioners are appointed by the Llano County Commissioners Court to two-year terms. The Board is responsible for governance of the District and has final say over all matters affecting the ESD. ESD Commissioners serve both as a policy­making body and as the decision-­making body that oversees the general provision of emergency services in their ESD.