WILDWOOD, Texas — Some Hardin and Tyler County voters will be seeing a proposition at the bottom of the November 5 ballot asking them to approve a 2% local sales and use tax.
This is for the Village Mills Emergency Service District Eight. They're hoping voters will help them make ends meet at the Wildwood Volunteer Fire Department.
12News spoke to District Eight officials about what's on the line for this election.
The Wildwood VFD doesn't have any volunteers who are trained as emergency medical technicians. They're hoping more funds will allow them to invest time and money into needed training.
"We would love to be able to have some EMS out here," said Mike Liles, the president of ESD 8.
Village Mills ESD Eight is proposing a 2% local sales and use tax. The money would be collected on goods and services in the district.
"Sometimes we take them for granted but we also know that there are a lot of expenses associated with the service that they provide," said Wildwood resident, Dan Shaddock.
Shaddock says he's willing to do what it takes to support first responders.
"I think it's a good thing that we have the opportunity to support them financially so that they can get the equipment and provide the training that's necessary to do their work."
The ESD serves 49 square miles that cover parts of northern Hardin County and southern Tyler County.
Liles says the community's support is needed in order to continue responding to emergencies.
"Most of all of our response here is mainly home fires, but we respond on the highway when there's an accident," Liles said.
The money would be used to purchase fire and emergency service equipment, upgrade its fire station and pay for training for its volunteer firefighters.
"Inflation and stuff, we're seeing that the current funds that we have coming in are not gonna be able to support this fire station and the fire equipment we have and provide the training we need to serve this community," said Liles.
The department also hopes to complete a 10-year long remodeling process so that their station can serve as a shelter during storms.
"We've had hurricanes and residents got trapped out here and the fire station is an opportunity place to provide water, food, during hurricane events or other flooding events," Liles said.
The measure appears on the ballot differently, depending on the county. During early voting it's only on ballots at the Hardin County Courthouse in Kountze and the Tyler County Nutrition Center in Woodville.