Ellis County Emergency Services District (ESD) 5 Fiscal Summary
Overview of ESD 5 and Services Provided
Emergency Services District 5 (ESD 5) is a local government originally established in 1987 as a Rural Fire Prevention District to offer fire protection and emergency response services to the City of Ferris and specific unincorporated areas in Ellis County. ESD 5 supports thousands of residents, including communities surrounding the City of Ferris.
ESD 5 currently has one fire station and contracts with the City of Ferris, which operates out of the fire station in the City. In 2026, ESD 5 will operate from its station within the ESD. The ESD station will then provide volunteer staff and training under the direction of ESD 5's fire chief.
ESD 5 is one of the 310 Emergency Services Districts (ESDs) across Texas, 12 of which are in Ellis County.
ESD 5's Resources and Community Needs
Ellis County is rapidly growing, with a 23% population increase over the past five years and a current population of approximately 230,000 residents. As the population grows and development expands, the volume of emergency calls has increased. Also, the cost of firefighting equipment and apparatus has increased since 1987, making it difficult for ESD 5 to fund firefighting improvements with the current ad valorem tax cap of three cents per one hundred dollars valuation.
Additionally, ESD 5 currently holds a high ISO rating. ISO ratings are scores given to fire departments based on their ability to protect their community. Fire departments are evaluated on a scale of 10 to 1, with 10 being the worst and 1 being the best. Having a high ISO rating contributes to higher homeowner insurance premiums for residents. By upgrading emergency protection services, ESD 5 may be able to improve its ISO rating and lower insurance costs for community members.
Election Information
At the November 4, 2025, election, Ellis County residents located within the jurisdiction of ESD 5 will have the opportunity to vote on Proposition A, a measure that would raise the ad valorem tax cap for ESD 5 from $0.03/$100 to $0.10/$100. Proposition A would allow an increase in the maximum amount of ad valorem tax that could be assessed against property in ESD 5.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many stations are located within ESD 5?
Currently, the City of Ferris provides fire protection services to ESD 5 and operates out of its station. In 2026, the ESD will operate from its fire station exclusively.
How is ESD 5 currently funded?
ESD 5 is currently funded through a maximum $0.03/$100 ad valorem property tax. Out of the funding, two-thirds of ESD 5’s revenue comes from property owners in Ellis County and one-third comes from property owners in the City of Ferris. ESD 5 is receiving the same amount of tax money as it did in 1987, which is insufficient to accommodate the growing needs of ESD 5.
How would ESD 5 benefit from additional funding?
Additional funding would help to increase staffing support and update equipment. It currently costs ESD 5 approximately $18,000 to put one person in firefighter gear. With more funding, ESD 5 would be able to add paid staff on shifts, bring on volunteers and obtain up-to-date equipment.
How are current response times?
ESD 5’s staffing levels and resources are unable to keep up with the growing population demand. This results in delays in response times and impacts the community’s access to emergency services.
How would residents benefit from additional funding?
Residents in both the City of Ferris as well as the surrounding territory would receive dedicated fire service provided by paid staff and volunteers.
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