The sales tax in areas served by Montgomery County Emergency Services District No. 14 will increase by 1% after a successful sales tax election May 4.

ESD 14 Secretary-Treasurer Jim Waters said the measure passed by a vote of 117-49 and will bring the total sales tax rate in areas served by the district to 2%, excluding areas taken by the city of Houston by special annexation. ESD 14 voters had approved a 1% increase in 2016.

ESD 14 partners with Timber Lakes Volunteer Fire Department to provide services to about 5,000 residents of the 3-square-mile Timber Lakes and Timber Ridge areas, which can be seen here.

In 2018, ESD 14 collected $242,450 through the 1% sales tax approved by voters in 2016. The estimate for annual revenue under the 2% rate is $396,000 for 2020, an increase of approximately $153,000, Waters said. The district will begin to see revenue from the sales tax increase in December, he said.

Officials with ESD 14 said the sales tax revenue will increase its ability to offer fire protection services to the area.

“You saw that the last election in 2016 brought 24/7 firefighter service to Timber Lakes/Timber Ridge where you live and reduced response times for them to get to you when needed,” ESD 14 board President Lanny Dreesen said in a news release. “Our purpose is solely to support residents in Emergency Services District 14 with quick and professional first responders to fire and emergency medical needs.”