Burnet County ESD No. 7 proposes higher tax rate, larger budget
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Burnet County Emergency Services District No. 7, which serves the large rural area surrounding the city of Burnet, has proposed a higher tax rate for the 2026-27 fiscal year to fund a larger budget, and will hold a public hearing next week before voting to adopt the rate and budget.
ESD No. 7 provides emergency services to the broader area outside of the city limits of Burnet, and contracts with the city’s municipal fire department – along with the volunteer fire departments of Burnet and Lampasas – for fire protection services.
The public hearing will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 31, at the Burnet Community Center at 401 E. Jackson Street in Burnet.
The district expects to tally approximately $1.59 million in expenditures in FY 2026-27, as opposed to roughly $1.2 million in FY 2025-26.
See the entire proposed FY 2026-27 budget here. Compare it to the FY 2025-26 budget here.
The proposed tax rate is $0.10 per $100 property tax valuation, which is significantly higher than last year’s rate of $0.078675. It is roughly a 27 percent increase, and is also the maximum tax rate which an ESD may levy on properties, at 10 cents per $100 valuation.
Of note, the proposed tax rate for FY 2026-27 is higher than the ESD’s voter-approval tax rate, but is lower than its de minimis rate. This means that, if the proposed rate is approved, qualified voters of the district may petition that an election be held to determine whether to reduce the proposed rate.
What is an ESD?
An ESD provides emergency services to a defined district by collecting a small tax from residents within its boundaries, up to 10 cents per $100 property valuation, to be used exclusively for fire protection, emergency medical services, or both.
An ESD is put on a ballot for residents to approve when a petition containing at least 100 signatures from voters who own property in the district is filed with the county.
ESD No. 7 encompasses a large swath of Burnet County, essentially covering the outskirts of the city of Burnet between Marble Falls and Lampasas.