What is an ESD?
A. An Emergency services District (ESD) is a local government agency, created by a vote of the public to provide emergency services. The governing stature for an ESD is Chapter 775 of the Texas Health & Safety Code. In this case ESD 11 was created in May 2004 at an election. There are two types of ESDs. One is for fire protection and the other is for EMS. This ESD 11 was created to provide EMS only. There are other ESDs located within the boundaries of ESD 11 that were previously created, however those ESDs provide fire protection and rescue, not EMS. An ESD is authorized to levy an ad valorem tax. In Harris County the maximum tax rate depends on the type of service provided. For an ESD that is created to provide EMS only, then 3 cents per hundred dollar valuation is the cap. The tax rate cap may be raised in the future, but only after an election to authorize it.
