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Comal County ESDs report steady reserves, rising EMS demand and capital plans
Summary
Representatives from multiple Emergency Service Districts told the court they met or exceeded response-time targets in 2024, reported multi-million-dollar revenues and reserves, and outlined capital purchases and station planning for growth areas.
Leaders from Comal County’s Emergency Service Districts (ESDs) briefed the commissioners on 2024 operations, finances and strategic plans. Deb Pruishak (ESD 5) told the court the three cooperating ESDs saw overall call volume growth—ESD 5 reported an 8.74% increase in responses over 2023—and reviewed revenues, capital purchases (ambulances, ladder and squad vehicles) and land acquisitions for future stations.
Stuart Magloff (ESD 3) described roughly $15.8 million in 2024 revenues and substantial reserve balances that provide about ten months of operating coverage; he also outlined debt payoffs and continuing mortgage obligations on several stations. ESD leaders described investments in new SCBA packs, ambulance replacements and peak-time ambulance deployments to address call-volume clustering. New Braunfels Fire Department Chief Lozano said mobile integrated health (MIH) and squad units have reduced unnecessary heavy-apparatus responses and improved cost efficiency.
The ESDs said they plan additional hiring (nine operational personnel budgeted for 2025), station replacements and facility builds in growth corridors, and continued collaboration via interlocal agreements to maintain response standards across jurisdictional lines.
