Emergency Service Districts (ESDs)

Emergency Service Districts (ESDs) are political subdivisions of the State of Texas. Their purpose is to support your Fire & EMS needs through the collection of tax dollars.  In the Bulverde Spring Branch area we have: ESD #1 (Ambulance); ESD#4 (Fires north of Hwy 46); ESD#5 (Fires south of Hwy 46).  ESDs impose a sales and use tax and/or property tax to support or provide these services. In addition to other powers, an ESD may also own real or personal property, enter into contracts, employ agents, and accept donations.  ESDs are the only practical way to adequately support emergency services in many Texas municipalities as well as suburban and rural areas of the state. Each of these ESDs (#1, 4, and 5) have five (5) Commissioners all of whom are volunteers, appointed by our elected officials of the Comal County Commissioners Court to serve two-year terms of service.  ESD Commissioners are required to receive orientation and training in areas such as the Texas Public Information Act and the Texas Open Meeting Act.  Commissioners attend monthly meetings, selected conferences, and some serve on committees that meet periodically. In Western Comal County, Bulverde Spring Branch Emergency Services (BSBES) has been created to manage the consolidated operations under the direction of Mechelle Salmon.  The three ESDs will continue to provide funding for operations, buildings and equipment.

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