by Chad Engbrock

The regular meeting of Collin County ESD-1 is scheduled for 5 p.m. tonight (Monday, Aug. 24), at Blue Ridge Elementary, 10944 County Road 504 in Blue Ridge. The meeting is open to the public, and members of the public may also participate by videoconference.

The Emergency Services District Board of Commissioners will consider a proposed 2026 property tax rate and potentially schedule a public hearing where residents can weigh in before the rate is adopted.

One of the key items on the agenda calls for the board to review 2026 tax-rate calculation worksheets prepared by the Collin County Tax Office, establish a proposed tax rate and schedule a public hearing for adoption of the rate. The board also would authorize publication of notice for that hearing.

The district’s draft fiscal 2027 budget, covering Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027, is based on a proposed tax rate of 10 cents per $100 of taxable value. The draft budget estimates $12.85 million in total revenue, including about $12.81 million in property-tax revenue.

The proposed budget anticipates about $10.3 million in total expenses. Major expenditures include about $2.93 million in fire-protection reimbursements to municipal utility districts, $1.45 million for ambulance and EMS contracts and $5.25 million for service-provider fire protection agreements.

The board also is scheduled to discuss and potentially approve agreements for fire and emergency services, reimbursement agreements with municipal utility districts and contract EMS services, including a possible service agreement with Allegiance Mobile Health.

Commissioners also will receive an update on requests for proposals for contract fire services.

Members of the public who want to address the board must submit a properly completed Public Comment Form before the meeting begins. Speakers are limited to three minutes.

The agenda does not yet specify the date, time or location of the public hearing on the 2026 tax rate. Those details are expected to be established if the board approves scheduling the hearing.

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