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A petition to bring Elgin into Bastrop County’s new emergency services district could be pushed to voters this fall, pending board approval later today.
The Bastrop County ESD No. 3 board recently verified enough signatures from Elgin-area residents seeking annexation into the district to meet the state-required threshold. If approved during a public meeting Wednesday, Aug. 13, the annexation proposal may appear on the November ballot.
“It is something we cannot sustain long term without massive service cuts,” Interim City Manager Isaac Turner said while discussing Elgin’s current EMS situation last month.
According to city officials, Elgin currently pays $27,900 per month under an interlocal agreement to keep ambulances rolling — a cost that would rise to $123,210 monthly through November 2026 unless voters choose to move forward.
If approved, emergency medical services would instead be funded through a property tax of up to 10 cents per $100 valuation beginning in October 2026, Turner said. City leaders would have to extend the current contract or find another provider if annexation is rejected.
The public hearing for residents of the proposed annexation area and the existing district is set for 5 p.m. at the Bastrop County Commissioners Court, 804 Pecan St. in Bastrop.
Two separate ballot propositions would appear in November: one for Elgin and its extraterritorial jurisdiction, and one for voters already in ESD No. 3. Approval would require majority support from both groups.
Mayor Theresa McShan encouraged residents to vote on the matter during the city’s all-ward town hall last month, calling it a move that would help alleviate stress on next year’s budget and put Elgin in better financial standing.
“We know we’re paying a lot of money, but if we have to go out and get our own service or another contract, we could be paying a lot more,” she said.
If either group rejects the measure, the annexation effort will fail.
According to city officials, Elgin sat out last year’s ESD No. 3 formation vote due to concerns about coverage for the city’s Travis County residents. Separate county agreements now serve those areas, and district representatives said inter- local agreements are being discussed to ensure they would be covered.
ESD Commissioner Allen Johnson said an ambulance already stationed between Elgin and Bastrop has noticeably improved response times in both areas.
