FERRIS – PROP ‘A’ ON MAY’S BALLOT: SALES TAX INCREASE SOUGHT BY ESD NO. 5 FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS

ELLIS COUNTY – Ellis County Emergency Service District No. 5 will be asking voters to vote on a local sales and use tax in the ESD 5 district in May’s election.

This sales tax increase will only include county districts, since inside the city limits the amount is already maxed out, which means no increase to the city’s sales tax. 

“There will be no increase to the property tax rate either, only two percent of the sales outside of the city limits (of Ferris),” said ESD 5 Secretary, Dallas Dial, going on his fifth year on the board.

The proposition reads, “Adoption of a sales and local use tax in Ellis County Emergency District No. 5 at a rate not to exceed two percent in any location in the district.”

Dial said ESD 5 is asking for a sales-tax increase to raise funds for the advancement of fire protection within the district.

“Rural areas and inside the city limits, this tax is on the sales of product and services outside of the city limits, but will benefit the citizens of the City of Ferris also as the money will go to fire protection services to the whole district, the city and the rural portions of our district,” Dial explained.

Dial said this tax increase will ensure the rural area of the ESD 5 district will continue to have the same quality of fire protection and emergency medical service as is the city limits. 

The tax increase has been outlined to help ensure that the rural areas, as well as the city, will be able to maintain CareFlite as their ambulance service.

However, Prop A also on the ballot in May is also looking for a property tax increase to assure some of these same services as well.

Dial said the emergency service district owns and operates the only fire station in the district, even though the City of Ferris does have its own fire department. 

In short, the city handles its own fire calls, and ESD No. 5 is responsible for fires in the county.

Dial said the ESD Fire Station houses the ESD fire truck, the ESD brush truck, the ESD tanker truck, the CareFlight ambulance and ambulance crew quarters as well as Ferris’ fire truck and brush truck. 

“The tax increase will also help maintain and upgrade the fire station for the future,” Dial added. 

“The volunteer commissioners have been exceptional stewards of the taxpayer’s money – all of the ESD 5 equipment listed beforehand, including the fire station located at 101 Ewing – is paid for.

“The ESD is here to ensure the people that live in the rural areas of ESD 5 have a voice and are represented in the city and district fire protection planning and actions concerning fire protection and emergency medical service.”

Ferris City Manager Brooks Williams commented on the proposed Proposition B, saying, “Our understanding of the proposition from the emergency service district is it would only be for areas outside of the incorporated city limits of Ferris. 

“This could create a challenge for our economic development corporation in the future should we annex those areas, because economic development money comes from the same pool that this tax for ESD 5 would be pulling from. 

“Our understanding, per the ESD board, is no business in Ferris would be contributing portions of sales tax generation to this proposition.”

Dial said the Ellis County Emergency Service District No. 5 has not had a tax increase since it began in the mid-to-late 1980’s.  

He added that historically, 78 percent of ESD’s collected tax revenue has gone to the City of Ferris Fire Department.

ESD 5 was originally created to furnish fire protection services for the citizens of Ferris and the rural district.  

“Our ESD has the lowest tax rate in Ellis County, and with the influx of new residents and businesses to our district and the cost of all services and materials on the rise, without the increase in tax revenue our district will be in a financial crisis,” Dial concluded.