What do the Hidalgo County ESD Propositions mean?

HIDALGO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The May 3 election is just around the corner and many Hidalgo County residents are wondering, what do these propositions mean?

ValleyCentral has taken a look to make your stop at the ballot box a little swifter.

In Hidalgo County, many residents will be voting on propositions labeled Hidalgo County Emergency Service District (ESD) Proposition 1 through 6.

Propositions 1 through 4 propose to increase the maximum tax rate for the Emergency Service District, while propositions 5 and 6 ask residents to vote on whether or not they support the creation of Emergency Services Districts.

Emergency Services Districts 1 through 6 propose that voters raise the cap on the amount of ad valorem taxes that could be assessed on them to 10 cents per $100 valuation.

The voter-approval tax rate is the highest tax rate a taxing unit may adopt before requiring voter approval at an election. An election will automatically be held if a taxing unit wishes to adopt a tax rate in excess of the taxing unit’s voter-approval tax rate, according to Hidalgo County Elections Department.

ESD 5 and 6 are also proposing a tax rate of 10 cents per $100 valuation.