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Elgin voters will decide this fall whether to bring the city and parts of its extraterritorial jurisdiction into Bastrop County Emergency Services District No. 3, potentially shifting ambulance funding from short-term contracts to a dedicated property tax.
The ESD3 Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Aug. 13 to call an annexation election after hearing public comment, with several residents speaking in favor. Both Elgin voters and those already living in the district must approve the measure Nov. 4 for it to take effect.
“If approved, residents of the city of Elgin and its ETJ who reside in Bastrop County will be included in the district, and will pay up to 10 cents per $100 of property valuation to the district effective in [January],” city officials said in a prepared release.
Currently, Elgin pays $27,900 per month through a temporary interlocal agreement to maintain ambulance coverage. Interim City Manager Isaac Turner said last month the arrangement is not sustainable long term “without massive service cuts.”
The city could see its monthly costs rise up to $123,210 through late 2026 if annexation fails and leaders don’t find another provider. Officials said Elgin may also face slower response times and reduced accountability along with the loss of about $2 million from the city’s general fund over the next two years.
Under the ESD3 umbrella, Elgin residents would gain access to five fully staffed 24-hour ambulances, two additional 12-hour peak-time ambulances, 24/7 response from a critical care paramedic supervisor and PHI Air Medical Transport within Bastrop County — at the same cost cap already paid by existing ESD3 members.
Bastrop County voters created ESD3 late last year after voicing concerns that existing contractors could not keep pace with rising demand.
Elgin did not participate in the 2024 formation vote because of concerns about coverage for its residents in Travis County, according to city officials. Those households are currently covered through separate county agreements, and new interlocal agreements would be arranged to ensure continued coverage if annexation succeeds.
The Nov. 4 ballot will feature two propositions: one for voters in Elgin and its Bastrop County ETJ, and one for existing ESD3 voters. Both must pass for annexation to take effect.
