A proposal to allow the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department to collect one penny in sales tax revenue from purchases made in its service area will be up for voter approval this May. The extra collections would result in an extra $6 million annually for the department, which needs extra revenue to maintain its existing services and build future stations.
The Cy-Fair VFD, which has 400 volunteers and makes 30,000 calls per year, serves 155 square miles of unincorporated northwest Harris County, including the majority of Cy-Fair ISD.
"The ESD has recognized that to continue to grow at the rate we're going, we need an avenue of additional funds," said Joe Davis, Cy-Fair VFD chief, during a March 7 Cy-Fair Houston Chamber meeting. "We can continue to provide services, but eventually it may entail a property tax [increase]. Instead of that we're trying to go this route because we have so many people coming through our territory. We estimate about 300,000 people travel through our area daily, and they spend money within our area."
If voters approve the sales tax proposal, which will not affect property tax rates, the extra money will go toward several future fire stations, renovations of existing stations, equipment and required mandates.
