Updated 11:18 p.m. CST

Unofficial election results released Nov. 5 indicated voters approved a sales tax increase for Travis County Emergency Services District No. 4, passing the ESD's Proposition 1.

The proposition doubles the local sales and use tax that Travis County ESD No. 4 collects, making it 2 percent. The sales tax increase will bring in an estimated $250,000 for the district annually, ESD No. 4 Chief Florencio Soliz said.

According to unofficial results from Travis County, with 100 percent of polling locations reporting, 60.98 percent of voters supported Proposition 1, while 39.02 percent opposed it. All results are unofficial until canvassed.

"I'm excited about the results," said Andrew Garcia, president of the Travis County ESD 4 Firefighters Association's Local 4848, noting the polling numbers reflect the local community's grass-roots efforts to spread the word about the proposed sales tax increase. Garcia said the ESD plans to use the revenue to add one firefighter paramedic to each of its current three-person teams, implement a "medical squad" system by adding intermediate paramedics to teams, and purchase new equipment such as a $15,000 AutoPulse device for CPR.

In addition to campaigning for the sales tax increase, the ESD also recently applied for a federal grant for small fire departments that would allow the ESD to hire more firefighters.

"We don't have all our eggs in one basket," Garcia said.

Posted 7:30 p.m. CST

Unofficial preliminary voting results released Nov. 5 showed more than half of all early voters in Travis County supported doubling the 1 percent sales tax collected by Travis County Emergency Services District No. 4.

If approved, Proposition 1 would increase the local sales and use tax the ESD collects to 2 percent.

In early voting, 54.74 percent of voters supported Proposition 1, while 45.26 percent voted against it, with 137 votes counted in the race. All results are unofficial until canvassed.

The ESD's firefighters hoped voters would approve Prop 1.

"Expenses keep going up," Soliz said.

He explained that while constituents pay for services, many of the emergency services the district provides are to people who do not live nearby but are commuting and end up in traffic collisions or other emergencies. He said the ESD is seeking a way to bring in funds to help offset that.

"Sales tax is the only option we have as ESDs," he said.

Garcia said the group campaigned during October and held up signs on Election Day encouraging voters to vote in favor of the proposition.

More information about Travis County ESD 4 is available at www.esd4.org.