Grayson County to place 1.5% unincorporated-area sales tax for fire and EMS on November ballot
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Summary
County Judge and commissioners approved an order to publish a proposed 1.5% sales-and-service district tax limited first to fire and EMS, with surplus funds allowed for roads and law enforcement; measure will appear on the November ballot for voters in unincorporated Grayson County.
Grayson County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to approve a final order to place a proposed 1.5% sales-and-service district tax on the November ballot for residents of the county's unincorporated areas.
The court's order, as revised and read into the record, says the district's primary purpose would be the provision of services that benefit public health and welfare — specifically fire prevention, firefighting and emergency medical services (EMS). The order also states that if district funds are “available beyond what is necessary” to fund fire and EMS, they may be used only for construction, maintenance or improvement of roads and highways and for law enforcement and detention services. The order will be published in final form to call the election.
County Judge Josh DiDasi said the revised order narrows language from earlier drafts to avoid confusion about allowable uses and to make clear the county’s intent. “If we have adequate funding beyond what is necessary to fund EMS and firefighting, the funds may only be used for roads and highways, provisions of law enforcement and detention services,” DiDasi said. He emphasized the proposal is not a property tax and applies only to purchases made in the county’s unincorporated areas, not within city limits.
The measure would add 1.5% to purchases in unincorporated Grayson County; agricultural exemptions would continue to apply, DiDasi said. He gave examples from county budgets to explain the proposed need: in 2023 the county paid about $1,500,000 for fire and EMS contracts; by 2025 the figure had risen to roughly $2,900,000, and current budgeting for the service is about $3,200,000. Those numbers were presented by the judge during the discussion as context for seeking a dedicated revenue source.
Robert Paul Hawkins, a resident of Pottsboro, spoke in favor during public comment. “I’m very much in support of this endeavor… it’s focused, and I’m very proud of the judge and the commissioners to come up with a very solid focus for our fire and EMS activities,” Hawkins said.
Commissioner Mike Wright moved to approve the final order to place the measure on the ballot; Commissioner Arthur seconded. The court voted in favor and the motion carried. Court members said the action only puts the question before voters; it does not approve the tax itself.
Court members also said they will conduct public outreach — town halls and website materials — ahead of the election to explain who would pay the tax and how revenues would be used. Several commissioners reiterated that the county is not required by law to provide fire and EMS in unincorporated areas and that the tax is intended to create a sustainable funding stream so those services do not continue to draw from the county general fund.
The court did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript; the motion passed by voice vote. The order number read into the record was 2025-008; the court noted the text had been edited to mirror relevant state statutory language and to add a repealer clause for prior contradictory language.
The court also approved, as a separate item, calling a state-required constitutional election for November (listed on the agenda as item 9.6). That vote likewise passed by voice vote.
What happens next: the order will be published in final form and the county will proceed with signage, web materials and public meetings ahead of the November election so voters in unincorporated Grayson County can decide whether to approve the 1.5% sales-and-service district tax.
