Commissioners grant petition to form Hunt County Emergency Service District No. 2 and call November confirmation election

The commissioners voted on three linked actions to advance creation of Hunt County Emergency Service District (ESD) No. 2. After reviewing certified mapping and voter/petition signatures, staff reported that the petition met statutory requirements (more than the required number of landowners/signatures remained after excluding overlapping ETJ signatures). The court adopted the findings of feasibility required by Texas Health and Safety Code Section 775.017, granted the petition and fixed the district boundary as presented (excluding specific municipal areas and ETJs identified in the packet), and called a confirmation election to be held on the next available uniform election date so voters can confirm the creation of the ESD and authorize a maximum ad valorem tax rate allowed by law.

County legal and mapping staff told the court the CAD (Central Appraisal District) and county GIS teams provided certified tax-value calculations and mapped petition signers to provide precise taxable-value figures for the proposed district. Commissioners discussed practical details: overlaying new precinct/ballot-box boundaries for the election, whether city voters and ETJ voters cast separate ballots in contested areas, and the workload for election staff. Staff warned that delaying action could complicate mapping and require outside assistance; the court approved moving forward with the November election and directed staff to finalize precinct boxes and notices.

The actions do not themselves impose a tax; the November ballot will ask voters in the proposed district to confirm creation and to authorize a district tax up to the statutory maximum. If voters confirm the district and tax, the ESD will be authorized to levy the ad valorem tax and contract for emergency services consistent with state law.