Health, finances considered as ESD vote set

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.