Election Information
Sales and Use Tax Election
The District will conduct a Sales and Use Tax Election on May 3, 2025.
The location(s) of the polling places at which the election shall be conducted can be found at
fortbendvotes.com.
El Distrito llevará a cabo una Elección del Impuesto sobre Ventas y Uso el 3 de mayo de 2025.
La ubicación de los centros de votación donde se realizará la elección se puede consultar en fortbendvotes.com.
Early Voting Roster/Lista de Votación Anticipada
Sample Ballot / Boleta de Muestra
Fort Bend County Emergency Services District No. 9
Proposition Election Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Fort Bend County ESD 9?
An Emergency Services District (ESD) is a grass-roots government entity created by voters in an area to fund fire protection, emergency medical services, or both. More than 300 districts are operating in Texas, and more are added at almost every uniform election date.
Fort Bend County Emergency Services District No. 9 (“FBCESD 9”, or the "District") is the government entity that collects property tax to fund fire suppression and emergency medical services to the residents within the District’s boundaries, and to neighboring reciprocal mutual aid partners as needed. These taxes fund a station, apparatus, personnel, and equipment the fire department utilizes to provide fire protection for the community. The District operates as Fort Bend County Emergency Services District No. 9 in combination with Needville Fire Department (Needville FD).
The taxes collected come from an ad valorem tax, commonly known as property tax. Emergency Services Districts are capped by the Texas Constitution at $0.10/$100 valuation of taxable property; the 2024 tax rate was set at $0.094565/$100. Often, this revenue source alone is insufficient to meet the emergency response needs of districts, and boards seek additional funding outside of property tax.
Why does the District need more funding?
Through sound fiscal management and good stewardship, the Board of Commissioners of FBCESD 9 has been able to purchase and maintain the current training, apparatus, and equipment to protect the community up to this point while managing their capital reserve for scheduled, long-term capital expenditures. However, there are three major issues facing the District which require additional funding:
· Additional staff to meet response model goals
· Address replacement firefighter equipment, apparatus loadouts, and newer apparatus
· New Fire Station to house additional purchased apparatus and response staff
As the Board considers the next 5 years of growth and emergency response, long-term strategic goals have been drafted to highlight the next steps in anticipating the needs of the District.
What are the issues facing the district?
FBCESD 9 has been diligent about forecasting and planning for equipment purchases and maintenance for the foreseeable future; unfortunately, increased costs for apparatus and longer lead times require more expenditure than in previous years.
FBCESD 9 has experienced population and commercial growth in the community over the past three years. As a result, the number of emergency calls the District responds to has steadily increased, with demand rising alongside the growing population. To keep up with this need, the District requires additional equipment for single-use items, ongoing maintenance for existing gear, and additional personnel to ensure efficient emergency response.
Why a Sales Tax?
By levying a Sales and Use Tax, FBCESD 9 would be shifting a portion of the funding for emergency services from property owners to anyone buying taxable goods and services in the District. The current property tax rate approved by voters is $0.094565/$100 valuation. The District is unable to increase the property tax rate beyond the state maximum and is hesitant to increase the property tax burden on residents; thus the Board of Commissioners has chosen to seek additional funding through sales and use tax while it is available to the District.
The Board of Commissioners has considered several sources of additional funding and chosen to seek voter approval for the implementation of a sales and use tax in the District. In Texas, the state captures $0.0625 (6.25%) on every dollar spent but allows other local government entities to capture up to $.02 (2%), with a state maximum of $0.0825 (8.25%), to support community services. If the District levied up to a two percent (2%) Sales and Use Tax, it could supplement the existing funding of emergency services from solely depending on residents’ property taxes to those people traveling to and through the FBCESD 9 community, who may also use and benefit from local emergency services.
What areas does the proposed new sales tax affect?
Residents and visitors making purchases in areas where a city or the county has adopted a 2% sales and use tax are already paying the maximum of eight and a quarter percent (8.25%) sales and use tax. To clarify, no area within the District can go above the 8.25% limit as a result of this election proposition. If so approved by voters, this proposition would only affect residents and visitors making purchases in areas not currently capturing the 8.25% maximum, meaning the new sales tax collections would stay within the District for local emergency response services and initiatives.
What Happens If the Sales Tax Proposition Fails?
Whether or not the sales tax measure passes, the FBCESD 9 Board of Commissioners will continue to serve the residents within the District boundaries, but their ability to address the issues facing the District’s growth requirements and staffing goals would be limited, as outlined above.
What Will the Ballot Look Like?
The May 3, 2025 ballot will ask registered voters of the District to vote for or against a Local Sales and Use Tax, for the entity known as Fort Bend County Emergency Services District No. 9. It will read as follows:
Proposition:
“The adoption of a local sales and use tax in FORT BEND COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NO. 9 at a rate not to exceed two percent (2%) in any location in the District.”
Voters will need to be looking for this language if they wish to cast their vote regarding the sales and use tax for FBCESD 9.
When, where, and how can I vote?
Voting schedules and locations for the May 3, 2025, election can be found at the official Fort Bend County Election website: https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/elections-voter-registration/early-voting-schedulepolling-locations-may-3rd-2025
Use this link to find information on registering to vote:
https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/elections-voter-registration
I have more questions…
Good! The goal is for the residents to have all the information at their disposal when voting approaches. Additional questions can be fielded through the “Contact Us” form on the District’s website: https://www.fbesd9.org/
