PowerPoint giving a general overview of the process and requirements for creating an overlapping ESD under Ch. 775 of the Tex. Health & Safety Code as a result of the passage of SB 917 by the 82nd Texas Legislature in 2011.

1. Overlapping Districts 2011 SAFE-D Fall WorkshopSeptember 30, 2011

2. Creating an Overlapping District Why create another ESD? Additional Services Fire EMS Rescue More….. Additional Tax Revenues Constitutional Cap is $0.10 per District

3. Single ESD

4. Add Overlapping ESD

5. Add Overlapping Entity

6. Add Overlapping ESD

7. Adjacent ESDs

8. Add Overlapping ESD

9. Basic Process Petition Acceptance by County Commissioners Court Notice to Existing ESD Municipal Consent Public Hearing Order for Election Conducting the Election Canvassing the Election Order Creating the District And Then…

10. Petition 100 Qualified Voters, or a majority if less than 100 Qualified Voters in the Area Name of the District Boundaries of the District Voter Printed Name, Mailing Address, Voter ID Number, Signature, Date Agreement of 2 voters to pay not more than $150 of costs

11. Boundaries May be designated by metes and bounds or other sufficient legal description A statement that the boundaries are coextensive with the boundaries of another political subdivision, as those boundaries exist on a particular date, is a sufficient legal description CAUTION: Confirm accuracy and consistency of legal description and any maps showing district.

12. Use Boundaries of Existing ESD

13. Use Boundaries of Multiple ESDs

14. Acceptance Proper petition received by County Judge and filed with County Clerk Hearing at next regular or special session after Petition is filed Notice of Hearing Sheriff must post on Courthouse door at least 21 days in advance Sheriff must publish in newspaper for 2 consecutive weeks (first at least 21 days in advance)

15. Notice of Hearing County clerk provides Sheriff with the notice of the hearing, which must state: that creation of a district is proposed; that it is to be created and is to operate under Article III, Section 48-e, of the Texas Constitution; the name of the proposed district; the district's boundaries as stated in the petition; place, date, and time of the hearing; and that persons of interest may attend and present argument.

16. Evidence of Notice The return of each officer executing notice must: be endorsed or attached to a copy of the notice; show the execution of the notice; specify the dates of posting and publication; and include a printed copy of the published notice.

17. Proposed Overlap Where the proposed district overlaps an existing district: Commissioners Court sends copy of the petition to the existing district Before election, existing district must adopt a statement of services detailing the services it will provide in the overlapping territory if the proposed district is created

18. Statement of Services Operations Fire EMS Transport First Response EMS Hazardous Materials Rescue Others… Management Fire Code Fire Marshal Billing Capital Financing & Ownership Administration More…

19. Municipal Consent Municipal Consent required forarea within City Limits or ETJ written request to City for consent 60 days for City to Respond if no consent within 90 days of request, file petition requesting services majority of voters 50 percent landowners if refusal or no action within 6 months of petition, deemed consent Consent valid for 6 months

20. Need Consent from City For City Limits and ETJ

21. Special Consent Provisions Municipal Consent for City >1 Million and County <1.4 Million Population (San Antonio/Bexar County) limit the district's ability to incur debt; require the district to ensure that its equipment is compatible with the municipality's equipment; and require the district to enter into mutual aid agreements.

22. Findings for Creation After the hearing and if Commissioners Court Finds that creation of the district is feasible will benefit the territory in the district will secure the public safety, welfare, and convenience, and will aid in conserving the real property or natural resources in the proposed district Then Commissioners Court shall grant the petition and fix the district's boundaries

23. Findings if City Included If the proposed district includes municipal territory, the commissioners court must determine if the district would still promote the public safety, welfare, health and convenience of residents if the municipal territory were excluded. The commissioners court must make this finding in connection with each affected municipality.

24. Okay if City Not Included? For City Limits and ETJ

25. Adverse Findings If the Commissioners Court finds that the proposed district does not meet these requirements, the Commissioners Court must deny the petition. Commissioners Court decision is discretionary.

26. Ordering Election Upon granting petition, Commissioners Court must order election Ballot must include any terms negotiated with an affected municipality. Notice of the election must be given in the same manner as the notice of the petition hearing. Election must be held on the first authorized uniform election date that allows sufficient time to comply with other requirements of law.

27. Canvassing Election District Created if Majority of Votes In Favor Must be Majority of Voters within City Limits or ETJ in favor of creation to include those areas in District If such territory is excluded, creation is not defeated if the commissioners court’s required findings regarding the remaining territory are favorable to creation.

28. What did Commissioners Decide? For City Limits and ETJ

29. Canvassing Election Upon creation, the commissioners court shall enter in its minutes an order containing language prescribed by the statute as well as any negotiated conditions that were included on the ballot. If election fails, must wait one year to try again

30. Order Creating District In form proscribed by statute Order should be filed in County Records together with all other records relating to creation of District Petition Municipal Consents Order Calling Election and Making Findings regarding Creation Order Canvassing Election and Creating District

31. Overlapping District Issues The existing district must provide the statement of services to the proposed district after its creation The new district may not provide services in the overlapping territory that duplicate the services provided by the existing district as set forth in the statement of services

32. Getting Set Up Board Members Ad Valorem Taxes Sales Taxes Contracts for Services

33. Board Members Commissioners may serve on two districts A commissioner serving two districts may: only receive compensation from one board and be reimbursed for expenses by both. May want to submit names of initial board candidates to Commissioners Court.

34. Board Members Appointed by Commissioners Court May be members of the existing district(s) Must execute Statement and Oath No emolument or dual office holding issues Must be aware of potential conflict of interest

35. Same Board Members?

36. Board Members from each overlapped District?

37. Ad Valorem Taxes Impact on Tax Rates Transfer of governmental functions? Tax Code §26.04(i) and (j) “agreed by written contract to transfer a distinct department, function, or activity to another taxing unit…” No contract transfer unless Existing District and Proposed District decide to enter into one

38. Ad Valorem Taxes If Transfer by Contract: Change in Rollback Rate Calculation Reduces revenues used to calculate Rollback Rate for transferring district by amount of O&M revenue used to fund transferred function Increases revenues used to calculate Rollback Rate for receiving district by amount of O&M revenue used to fund transferred function

39. Sales Tax Existing District keeps all Sales & Use Tax authority New District can seek Sales & Use Tax authority where available under 2% Local Cap Including possible “carve out” areas

40. Overlapping ESD May Get 1%

41. Overlapping ESD May Get 0.5% PLUS 1.0% Outside Local Entity

42. Overlapping ESD May Get Mixed Sales Tax

43. Contract for Services Authority under Interlocal Cooperation Act or H&S Code 775.0366 (as added by SB 917) May contract with others for services Including overlapping ESD ESD as contract provider may provider services that the ESD requiring services is authorized to provide

44. Contract for Services Fire ESD Provides to EMS ESD: EMS Transport? First Response EMS? Medical Director? EMS ESD Provides to Fire ESD: Fire Suppression? Fire Code Enforcement? Rescue Services?

45. Contract for Services Other Models? ESD Provides Building and Equipment ESD Provides Administration/Management Other Options…

46. QUESTIONS?

47. OVERLAPPING DISTRICTS John J. CarltonThe Carlton Law Firm, P.L.L.C.2705 Bee Cave Road, Suite 110Austin, Texas 78746(512) 614-0901 john@carltonlawaustin.com