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Elgin leaders are considering whether in-city and extraterritorial jurisdiction residents should join Emergency Services District No. 3, a decision that would appear on the ballot in November if an election is called by Aug. 18, officials said.
A newly signed interlocal agreement keeps ambulances rolling in Elgin for now, but it will cost the city $27,900 a month through November, then $123,210 a month—about $1.5 million total—through November 2026, according to interim City Manager Isaac Turner. If voters later approve annexation into ESD 3, that expense would shift to a property tax of up to 10 cents per $100 valuation beginning in October 2026.
“It is something we cannot sustain long term without massive service cuts,” Turner told City Council during its June 17 regular meeting. “These numbers were tough to fit into the budget, which you’ll see July 15, and it has not been painless.”
Under the expansion plan, two separate propositions would go before voters next year: one asking Bastrop County property owners in Elgin and its ETJ to join the district and another asking current ESD 3 residents—the rest of Bastrop County—to accept them. Both must pass for the city to enter the district, Turner said.
State law also requires at least 50 qualified voters who own property in Elgin or the ETJ to petition the five-member ESD 3 board, which must hold a public hearing at least 31 days after issuing an election order.
Until then, ambulance coverage will stay under the interlocal deal the council approved June 1. ESD 3 contracts with Acadian Ambulance, which stations five 24-hour units and floats two 12-hour units to fill gaps. A critical- care paramedic supervisor also responds around the clock and reviews cases for quality, district officials said.
ESD 3 formed in November after countywide voters authorized the district to fund and oversee emergency medical services. Elgin leaders kept the matter off last year’s ballot because they were uncertain how the city’s Travis County residents and those in the Travis County portion of the ETJ would be served, according to the council.
Separate county agreements now cover those areas.
Mayor Theresa McShan said she has asked former school bond advocate Forest Dennis to chair a citizen committee that would gather signatures and spread information.
“The community needs the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so voters aren’t confused,” McShan said. “This will be a little convoluted.”
If either ballot proposition fails, the city must renew its contract with ESD 3 or find another way to provide ambulance service.
“We’re talking about two elections in one—it’s a lot of work, but we need to decide how to finance EMS,” Turner said.
ESD 3 commissioners are appointed by Bastrop County Commissioners Court and set the district’s annual budget and tax rate while ensuring clinical standards are met. The board accepted the Acadian contract in May.
City staff are drafting a fact sheet on the potential annexation, expected costs and the timeline ahead.
Meanwhile, council members—barred from campaigning for or against the measure—say they will focus on making sure residents understand what is at stake before petitions are due next month.
