An Emergency Services District (ESD) is a local government agency created by a vote of the public to provide fire protection and/or emergency medical services (EMS) in specific areas in unincorporated Ellis County. There are over 300 ESDs in Texas, many of which are in Ellis County. The governing statute for an ESD is Chapter 775 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. An ESD collects taxes based on appraisals of real and personal property and usually contracts with a service provider (e.g. Forreston Volunteer Fire Department).

ELLIS COUNTY ESD NO. 6 ADOPTED A TAX RATE THAT WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR’S TAX
RATE. THE TAX RATE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE RAISED BY 36.98 PERCENT AND WILL RAISE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON A
$100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $20.38.