Collin County is moving forward with the establishment of an Emergency Service District (ESD) following a public hearing held on July 28, 2025. This initiative aims to enhance fire protection services across the unincorporated areas of the county, as well as in the extraterritorial jurisdictions (ETJs) of participating cities.

During the meeting, the Commissioners Court reviewed a petition initially filed in February 2025, which sought to create the ESD. The court's actions included setting the boundaries for the district based on municipal consent from various cities. Notably, cities such as Blue Ridge, Farmersville, and McKinney have agreed to include their ETJs in the ESD, while others like Allen and Frisco opted out.

The court clarified that while they are not establishing a tax rate at this time, preliminary estimates suggest that a future tax rate could generate significant funding for fire protection—potentially increasing from the current $950,000 to approximately $9.5 million, depending on the rate set by the ESD board after voter approval.

The next steps involve calling an election to confirm the creation of the ESD, setting the election date, and determining the ballot language. This process is crucial for ensuring that the ESD can effectively promote the health, safety, and welfare of residents in the proposed district.

As Collin County prepares for this significant development, the community is encouraged to engage in the upcoming election, which will ultimately decide the fate of the ESD and its potential impact on local emergency services.