The Board of Commissioners are residents who represent the district. They work to maintain the highest level of service. They are appointed by the elected Travis County Commissioners to oversee the fire department and serve the public.
Rico Reyes
President
April Griffin
Vice President
Mike Howe
Treasurer
Robert Turner
Assistant Treasurer
Randall Reese
Secretary
About TCESD 2/Pflugerville Fire Department Prop A
A Message from Chief Perkins
I am proud to be the chief of your fire department and thank you for your interest on TCESD 2 Prop A. I encourage you to educate yourself and email [email protected] if you have any questions not answered on this site.
Nick Perkins
Fire Chief
What is TCESD 2/Pflugerville Fire Department Prop A
This ballot measure asks voters whether they are FOR or AGAINST defunding the Pflugerville Fire Department by reducing sales tax funding. Prop A would defund the fire department. It would not provide new or better ambulance services.
What happens if a majority of the voters vote “Against”?
The proposition would not pass. If the proposition does not pass, the District's sales tax rates will not be affected and the District will be able to continue providing the level of service that it currently provides.
What happens if a majority of the voters vote "For"?
The proposition would pass. This would defund the fire department by reducing the annual budget about 40% or $17 million. This would impact the department's ability to provide emergency services at the current level.
How would Prop A affect district residents
This ballot measure is important because if it is passed, the fire department will have to make reductions in personnel, facilities, and services to offset the loss of approximately $17 million.
3
at least 3 fire stations could close
80
firefighters could be laid off
30-50%
Estimated increase in property insurance rates
2X
response times could double
Potential Impact Of Budget Cuts For Emergency Services
Firefighter Layoffs
A $17 million revenue loss would not allow the fire department to cover its largest current expense: firefighters. If Prop A passes, it is projected that the department would need to eliminate over 130 positions, including laying off over 80 firefighters.
Station Closures Due to Budget Cuts
Without firefighters to staff fire stations, the fire department would need to close several fire stations. If Prop A passes, these stations would potentially close:
- Fire station 3 off Kelly Ln
- Fire station 4 off Pflugerville Parkway
- Fire station 6 off Weiss Lane
Longer Response Times
Fire stations are planned and built strategically with the goal of responding quickly through all parts of the District.
If Prop A passes and stations close, projections show that 9-1-1 response times could increase from under 10 minutes (currently) to more than double that time in certain areas.
Rising insurance costs
If Prop A passes, the fire department’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating could go from 1 (the best rating) to 10 (the worst rating) in some areas.
This could lead to property insurance companies increasing residential and commercial premiums as much as 50%.
Understanding what's on the ballot
Sales and use tax on purchases is capped at 8.25%. The state collects 6.25%, leaving 2% to local taxing jurisdictions (cities, special-purpose districts, and transit authorities).
Overall Prop A would reduce the amount of sales tax the fire department receives. The ballot measure would do two things:
Abolish Sales Tax Funding
Abolishing the 0.5 percent local sales and use tax imposed by Travis County Emergency Services District No 2 (also known as the Pflugerville Fire Department) in the City of Pflugerville.
What this means: This would eliminate the sales tax the fire department receives in the City of Pflugerville.
Currently in the City of Pflugerville, the city receives 1.5% of the available 2% sales tax funds, while the fire department receives 0.5%
Decrease Sales Tax Funding
Decreasing the sales and use tax from 1.0 percent to 0.5 percent in all other areas of the district.
What this means: Anywhere that the District receives 1% sales tax, it will be reduced to 0.5%.
What would happen next?
If Prop A passes, the District will no longer receive the sales tax described above. Other entities such as the City of Pflugerville, CapMetro, or other special districts would be in a position to capture these funds by increasing their sales tax rate.
Find Where to Vote
Voting Dates
