Have an Emergency?
Have an Emergency?
Bergheim Volunteer Fire Department
November 8, 2022 Proposition B Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The County Commissioners Court for Kendall County have called for a proposition to be placed on the ballot for November 8, 2022. If approved by voters, this proposition would Authorize the creation of Kendall County Emergency Services District No. 1 (KCESD 1) and an ad valorem tax cap authorization of $0.10/$100 property valuation.
- What is an Emergency Services District?
- How Would an ESD Affect the Future of Bergheim VFD?
- What Does It Mean, Appointed Commissioners?
- What Factors Are Facing Bergheim VFD?
- What are the Goals of the ESD, and Bergheim VFD?
- Where Do We Stand in the Process Today?
- Will My Taxes Immediately Go To $0.10/$100?
- What Will the Ballot Look Like?
- Will KCESD 1 be Establishing a Fire Marshal's Office?
- Doesn't Bergheim VFD Have Paid Staff?
- Why Not Establish a County-Wide ESD?
- What Happens if the Proposition Fails?
- When, Where, and How Can I Vote?
- How can I view the Open House Presentation if I was unable to attend?
ABOUT OUR ESD
1. WHAT IS AN EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT?
Emergency Services Districts (ESDs) are authorized by the Texas Constitution, Article 3, Section 48-e, and Chapter 775 of the Texas Health & Safety Code. ESDs are political subdivisions of the State of Texas. They may support or provide local emergency services, including emergency medical services, emergency ambulance services, rural fire prevention and control services, and other emergency services authorized by the Texas Legislature. ESDs may collect a sales and use tax and/or property taxes to support or provide these services.
2. HOW WOULD AN ESD AFFECT THE FUTURE OF BERGHEIM VFD?
If this proposition passes, a Board of five (5) ESD Commissioners would be appointed by the County Commissioners Court to directly assist in the funding and governance of Bergheim Volunteer Fire Department (Bergheim VFD), working in conjunction with the VFD Board and established Command Staff to realize the goals of the District.
3. WHAT DOES IT MEAN, APPOINTED COMMISSIONERS?
The Board of Commissioners for the proposed ESD is selected from residents and community leaders within the ESD service area. They are appointed to staggered terms of two (2) years by the County Commissioners Court and are accountable to the Commissioners Court and their voting constituents. While not elected, they are government officials and can be re-appointed or replaced as needed by the Commissioners Court.
4. WHAT FACTORS ARE FACING BERGHEIM VFD?
Bergheim VFD provides fire suppression and rescue services to an estimated 8,000 residents who live and work within the 58 square miles located in Kendall County, Texas.
As the serviced areas are experiencing a period of unanticipated growth, there is more demand on the VFD in call volume response and personnel to staff the responding apparatus. The VFD Board is at a crossroads with funding for the department despite sound fiscal management and good stewardship. The Board has been able to maintain the apparatus and equipment to minimum standards needed to protect the community up through the 2022 fiscal year, but despite a small stipend from the county the VFD has had to rely heavily on community contributions and fundraisers to maintain operations.
In order to regularly staff the station, maintain equipment annually and replace aging equipment in a manageable staggered progression, Bergheim VFD would need a more robust funding model, such as the taxing authority of an ESD, to fully realize a strategic plan.
5. WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF THE ESD, AND BERGHEIM VFD?
Bergheim VFD’s administration and volunteer membership have been working to address the issues facing the possible ESD by developing a strategic ten (10) year funding plan. The three overarching goals outlined in the long-range plan are:
- Paid 24/7 station staff to address call response during times volunteer participation is traditionally low (working hours and/or overnights)
- Expand training and retention programs to grow and maintain volunteer membership
- Purchase and maintain apparatus and equipment related to response requirements within Kendall County
6. WHERE DO WE STAND IN THE PROCESS TODAY?
Bergheim VFD sent a petition, signed by more than 300 residents from the BVFD response area, to the Commissioner's court requesting a spot on the upcoming election ballot to allow the voters to decide if the Bergheim area needs an ESD. On July 11, 2022 Kendall County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to approve the request to allow the residents of Bergheim VFD to vote on a measure to create an Emergency Services District.
7. WILL MY TAXES IMMEDIATELY GO TO $0.10/$100?
The ESD, if so formed, would need to evaluate the current requirements and future goals of Bergheim VFD, establish and adopt an annual budget and strategic plan, and then set a tax rate to meet those goals. While the proposition authorizes the levy of up to $0.10/$100, the Board of Commissioners will evaluate the best rate to move forward with. The ad valorem tax rate is evaluated and reviewed every year moving forward and can go up or down as needed to properly fund the department and any debt service but can never exceed the authorized cap of $0.10/$100.
As part of the annual review of the property tax levy, the ESD can offer exemptions such as over-65, disabled veteran, and/or homestead. While ESDs do not “freeze” ad valorem levies like Independent School Districts (ISDs) can, offering these exemptions can provide a much-needed tax relief to the elderly or those on fixed incomes.
8. WHAT WILL THE BALLOT LOOK LIKE?
The November 8, 2022 ballot will ask residents to vote for or against the creation of an Emergency Services District, and the authorization to levy an ad valorem rate not to exceed $0.10/$100 valuation.
“PROPOSITION B:
AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF KENDALL COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NO. 1 AND IMPOSITION OF A TAX NOT TO EXCEED TEN CENTS (.10 CENTS) ON THE ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00) VALUATION FOR THE SUPPORT THEREOF.”
Voters will need to be looking for this language if they wish to cast their vote regarding the proposition for KCESD 1.
9. WILL KCESD 1 BE ESTABLISHING A FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE?
It is not currently the plan to establish a Fire Marshal’s Office as part of this proposition, nor is the proposed ESD planning to do so in the future. Kendall County already has a Fire Marshal that services the entirety of the county, and the proposed ESD is not interested in having or enforcing additional oversight or management of building codes or permits.
10. DOESN'T BERGHEIM VFD HAVE PAID STAFF?
No. There are paid daytime firefighters stationed at Bergheim VFD, but they are not under the purview or in the command structure of Bergheim VFD. They are paid for by Kendall County and report to the Kendall County Fire Marshal’s office and can be moved or relocated at any time at the discretion of the county and its officials. Further, their working hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and can not address the needs for overnight and weekend staff. This is why the strategic plan outlines the requirements for paid 24/7 staffing.
11. WHY NOT ESTABLISH A COUNTY-WIDE ESD?
Very few county-wide ESDs are able to provide efficient funding to all their contracted departments without additional revenue sources, such as sales-and-use taxes. As sales tax is not an option in this case, breaking the county up into smaller ESDs is more efficient for the contracted departments to get the full funding they may need. After a preliminary review of the costs for responding to the residents within the Bergheim VFD service area, it would require the ad valorem funds raised to remain local to Bergheim VFD to best respond and service the areas they provide to.
Further, if the ESD is formed, it does not change or nullify any of the mutual aid and reciprocity agreements Bergheim VFD has in place with neighboring departments. Those departments, and their serviced residents, are able to petition the Commissioners Court in a similar fashion Bergheim VFD did to form additional ESDs at such time their current funding options become insufficient to maintain their operations.
12. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE PROPOSITION FAILS?
If voters do not approve the proposition creating the ESD and levying the ad valorem rate, the fire department will continue to operate as best as it can with the funding it currently has. However, as population growth and increased call volume exceed the ability for Bergheim VFD to respond, residents could face diminished response quality and longer response times.
13. WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW CAN I VOTE?
WHEN:
Early Voting (only at Kendall County Courthouse Annex)
October 24 – 28 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
October 29 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
October 31 – November 4 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Election Day (both locations)
November 8, 2022 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
WHERE:
Kendall County Courthouse Annex
221 Fawn Valley Drive
Boerne, TX 78006
Bergheim VFD Station
1 Old Curry Creek Road
Boerne, Tx 78006
Early voting and Election Day Polling Locations
https://www.co.kendall.tx.us/page/Elections.Current.November
HOW:
Use these links to find information on the following topics: Registering to vote: https://www.votetexas.gov
Information obtained from Kendall County Elections office link KC Polling Locations
14. How can I view the Open House Presentation if I was unable to attend?
To view the Open House Presentation, click here.