Texas Fire Chief - Fall/Winter 2007 - (Page 17)

Growth and challenges While not officially categorized, there are two distinct structural differences in ESDs: those whose districts include a combination of unincorporated areas and a municipality, and those who serve only unincorporated areas. The importance of this difference speaks to the potential longevity of the district. Those ESDs that have municipalities within their jurisdiction are more or less insulated from total annexation from competing municipalities outside of their jurisdiction, whereas districts who service only unincorporated areas will always live with the threat of total annexation. Most ESDs began in more or less secluded or unincorporated, rural areas with little threat of annexation from the nearest town. As time goes by and people move into the district, infrastructure will improve, and the net value of the district will begin to increase. During this same time, the nearest munici- pality experiences growth, but at a much faster rate, and may extend its extra-territorial jurisdiction into the areas of the ESD. Portions of the ESD in turn become subject to full-purpose annexation as the values of the ESD become more attractive for the growth of the nearby municipality. The end result is that the value of the district may decline from annexation. In cases where the district is insulated from annexation, the growth or decline of a district is contingent on the balance of value created within the district versus the loss through annexation. However, as previously stated, some districts do not have the buffer factor created by having incorporated areas within their districts and cannot easily absorb the loss created by annexation, and their eventual demise will be realized as annexation becomes more aggressive. In the opinion of the municipalities, the ESD was only a temporary solution to provide fire protection until the city grew into the area and would be able to provide services. In the end, retaining taxable property is an important factor for all ESDs. After all, ESDs are just like any other form of government in that service is a direct reflection of the funds available. Mergers and consolidations ESDs can merge, consolidate and enter into automatic-aid agreements; however, this is a double-edged sword for many ESDs. Many ESDs have limited resources to begin with, and the governing bodies of these districts many times do not understand the benefits of sharing resources. In some cases, the governing bodies of the district view automatic aid as stripping their own districts without the view of the reciprocal benefits to their own district. Travis County specifically has grown from an all-volunteer county (other than the city of Austin) to all INSPIRED Inspired and dedicated to designing the state-of-the-art ﬁre station and public safety facilities Fire Station 6, McKinney, Texas Training Tower Frisco Central Fire Station, Frisco, Texas Fire Station 5, Frisco, Texas lawrence@phelpswood.com • 972.335.9382 www.phelpswood.com TEXAS FIRE CHIEF Fall/Winter 2007 309739_Architects.indd 1 17 12/8/06 12:30:32 AM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Texas Fire Chief - Fall/Winter 2007

Contents Executive Director’s Report Fire Chief of the Year What is an Emergency Service District (ESD)? Tax-Exempt Financing 101 The Benefits of Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) Southwest Fire Rescue 2008 Preview Membership Application ‘Courage to be Safe’ Program Aims to Save Lives Red Truck, Green Building Index to Advertisers

Texas Fire Chief - Fall/Winter 2007

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