An Emergency Services District (ESD) is a local government agency created by a vote of the public to provide fire protection and/or emergency medical services (EMS) in specific areas in unincorporated Bell County. There are more than 310 ESDs in Texas, 1 of which is in Bell County. The governing statute for an ESD is Chapter 775 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.

An ESD collects taxes based on appraisals of real and personal property and usually contracts with a service provider (e.g. Salado Fire & Rescue).

2025 Tax Rate Information

BELL COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NO. 1 ADOPTED A TAX RATE THAT WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR’S TAX RATE. THE TAX RATE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE RAISED BY 6.05 PERCENT AND WILL RAISE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $4.89.