Harris County Emergency Services District No. 9, which manages the Cy-Fair Fire Department, unanimously approved a $78.1 million budget for fiscal year 2021-22 at an Aug. 26 meeting. This is an increase from the $56.9 million budget from fiscal year 2020-21 and includes major expenses such as EMS costs, human resources and facility maintenance.
The district expects to receive $74.1 million in revenue in FY 2021-22 with about $27.1 million coming from local property taxes and $40.7 million coming from sales taxes. Other funding sources include interest on investments, insurance proceeds, the Southeast Texas Regional Advisory Council and various donations.
The FY 2021-22 capital expenditures budget came out to about $28.4 million and will fund chief and staff vehicles, medic vehicles, and station modifications. This funding will support the rebuilding and relocations of Station 1, as well as work on stations 6, 10 and 14.
Station 1 was previously located at 9202 Rodney Ray Blvd., Houston, and will be moved to 8520 Country View Drive, Houston. Construction is estimated to be complete by the second quarter of 2022. Station 6 will be relocated to 12344 W. Little York Road, Houston, from 6404 N. Eldridge Parkway, Houston.
Costs and timelines for stations 10 and 14 are still undetermined, but Cy-Fair Fire Department officials said the department will spend $2 million to acquire land for the future Station 14. ESD No. 9 officials previously told Community Impact Newspaper long-term plans involved bringing the total number of stations up to 22.
Commissioners also proposed a FY 2021-22 property tax rate of $0.057628 per $100 valuation at the Aug. 26 meeting. District Counselor Ira Coveler said this is the highest rate the board could adopt without requiring voter approval, but it is a decrease over the FY 2020-21 rate of $0.059492 per $100 valuation.
Due to a rise in the district's tax base, the lower tax rate is still expected to bring in about $1.9 million more in revenue over the previous year, officials said. The FY 2021-22 property tax rate is expected to be approved at the Sept. 23 meeting.
Meanwhile, Station 1 is under construction, but due to inclement weather conditions, officials are still awaiting the delivery of some materials. The contract for Station 1 comes out to approximately $6.7 million.
