Voters to decide on creation of Emergency Services District No. 5
Caldwell County
Caldwell County voters in November will determine the fate of Emergency Services District No. 5, which would provide ambulatory services throughout Caldwell County.
The county’s current ambulance services contract with Ascension is set to terminate at midnight on Sept. 30.
Ambulance services are projected to cost the City of Lockhart and Caldwell County about $500,000 annually each.
Voter approval of the county-wide emergency services district would allow those funds to be spent on other necessary services, while county-wide ambulances services would be funded by a tax not to exceed 10 cents per $100 property valuation. It is expected that this will allow the proposed emergency services district to afford additional ambulances and allow for qualified emergency medical personnel and quicker response times in emergency situations.
The Caldwell County Commissioners Court at a special meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 16, voted to approve the petition to create the new emergency services district, supported and signed by more than more than 100 registered county voters. The Commissioners Court also ordered an election to authorize the creation of the new ESD and the accompanying source of funding.
The election will be held Nov. 7. Early voting will be Oct. 23-Nov. 3.
The following municipalities have provided written consent to be fully included in the proposed ESD: Uhland, Lockhart, Luling, Niederwald and Martindale. Additionally, San Marcos provided written consent for its extraterritorial jurisdiction only to be included in ESD No. 5. Within its city limits, San Marcos ambulance services will continue as normal.
Voters living in municipalities that have not provided written consent to be included in the emergency services district, including Staples and Mustang Ridge, may still seek to be a part of the county-wide ambulance services by petitioning their city council. This petition must be made by a majority of qualified voters and the owners of at least 50 percent of the territory in the city’s limits or ETJ.
