• Voters established Wise County ESD 3 in November 2023 to provide stable funding for local volunteer fire services.
• The district covers about 108 square miles and serves the communities of Paradise, Cottondale and Salt Creek.
• It operates as an all-volunteer agency, contracting with the Paradise, Cottondale and Salt Creek volunteer fire departments.

 

A Growing District With Changing Needs

• The district serves approximately 20,000 residents across 5,500 households.
  • According to demographic modeling in a 2025 Agency Evaluation, the district’s population is projected to experience a nearly 100% growth rate by the year 2050.
• That growth is changing the district’s daily work. Over a recent two-year period, call volume increased 54%.
• Medical calls and vehicle crashes now make up more than 58% of all calls for service. These are the emergencies the district most often trains and equips its volunteers to handle.

 

Overview of the Proposed Sales Tax Adjustment

• In the unincorporated areas of the district, the current sales tax rate is 6.75%. That includes the 6.25% state tax and a 0.5% Wise County sales and use tax.
• Texas caps the total local sales tax rate at 8.25%. The proposed tax of up to 1.5% would bring the district's rate to that cap.
• The proposed tax would apply only outside the city limits of Paradise and Springtown. Those cities already collect their own 2% local sales and use tax.
• If approved, it is estimated to raise between $2.14 million and $2.28 million a year for the district.
• Taxpayers of the District already pay this sales and use tax when shopping at any of the cities in Wise County, including Paradise, Springtown, and Bridgeport. 

 

How the Sales Tax Could Affect Insurance Ratings

• The Insurance Services Office (ISO) rates fire protection on a scale of 10 to 1, with 1 being the strongest. Paradise currently holds a Class 8/8X rating, Cottondale a Class 9/10 and Salt Creek a Class 10.
• Insurers often use these ratings when setting property insurance rates. Stronger ratings, supported by more staffing, training and updated equipment, can lower insurance costs for homes and businesses.

 

What Would Funds Be Used For?

• Move from an all-volunteer model toward a paid, staffed department, with the goal of lowering emergency response times.
• Replace aging fire trucks and equipment, including tankers that carry water in areas without fire hydrants.
• Repair or replace district facilities. Some current stations, including Paradise and Cottondale, are in poor condition. At one station, the bay doors and layout are so tight that firefighters cannot safely move around the trucks indoors, and trucks must block public roads to fully clear the doors.
• Build central training facilities so firefighters are prepared for the range of emergencies the district handles.

 

Why funding is requested from you, the residents and voters of the District

• Wise County ESD 3 is funded only by property taxes, set at the state maximum of 10 cents per $100.00 valuation. That revenue alone does not cover the staffing required by the district's growing service demand.
• The district has used current funding to buy a new brush truck and a life-saving device, and it recently adopted a property tax freeze for homeowners age 65 and older and those with disabilities. It also started a volunteer stipend program to help improve response times.
• Much of the district's fleet is aging. About 83% of its heavy vehicles are more than 13 years old, and four frontline engines and brush trucks now need replacement. The district has a 25-year, $15.27 million plan to replace vehicles and equipment over time.
• The stipend program has helped cover daytime hours, but overnight coverage still depends heavily on volunteers, whose availability varies. The district describes stipends as a short-term step and points to full-time, paid staffing as a longer-term goal.