The proposal is driven by financial pressures and rapid population growth.
COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — Collin County is exploring the creation of an Emergency Services District (ESD) to address challenges faced by rural areas, a proposal driven by financial pressures and rapid population growth.
Richard Hill, a key advocate for the district, is one of the petitioners who gathered 300 signatures calling for the initiative. Hill, who lives outside Farmersville in its Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ), highlights the urgency of the situation.
“As it stands right now, we are going to lose fire protection on Oct. 1 this year,” Hill said.
The proposed district aims to serve the unincorporated areas of Collin County, where residents are at risk of losing essential fire and emergency services due to the increasing strain on nearby cities.
The unincorporated parts of the county account for roughly 60,000 residents across 75 square miles. Currently, rural areas rely on partnerships with neighboring cities for fire protection, as there is no dedicated Collin County fire department.
“We don’t have a Collin County fire department. All fire services provided in the rural areas are done by partnership with partnering cities,” Collin County Judge Chris Hill explained.
As Collin County’s population grows, cities are struggling to maintain services. Municipalities have already pulled out of county contracts, with two more set to expire in October. These cities are demanding significantly higher payments, putting additional pressure on the county’s ability to provide services.
“The cities want a great deal more money than the county is willing to pay,” Richard Hill said.
The proposed Emergency Services District would not involve the county directly managing fire or emergency services. Instead, it would support existing agreements with cities and help fund them through taxes. However, the district’s full implementation may take up to two years.
At Monday’s commissioner’s meeting the county wanted to ensure there would not be a gap in services in the event contracts had expired and the district hadn’t been set up yet.
“We’d like to keep doing that, partnering with our municipal and volunteer fire departments,” Chris Hill added.
Before moving forward, the district still requires a public hearing in July. Local cities will have 60 days from the time they receive notice from the county to decide whether to join the district. Richard Hill said he hopes to have the proposal on the November ballot for voters to decide.
“I’m fighting for myself and all my neighbors,” Richard Hill said.
