ECHD eyes Fire & EMS expansion with tax cap increase on November ballot

ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - The Ector County Hospital District Board of Directors unanimously approved a measure on the November ballot on Tuesday night, asking voters to increase the Hospital District's tax cap from 15 cents to 75 cents.

ECHD said this marks the first step in a series of measures aimed at expanding Fire and EMS services in Ector County. On July 17, Medical Center Hospital and the City of Odessa entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, while the City of Odessa and Ector County did the same, all agreeing to work together on bringing expanded Fire and EMS services to the entire county.

Under the proposed agreement, which will require the vote to approve a series of measures, MCH would take over the collection and appropriation of funding for Fire and EMS in the county, while the City continues to manage the services. As part of the agreement, MCH agreed to fund future expansion of Fire and EMS services in the areas that are currently underserved and/or long distances from healthcare facilities.

“This initial measure is not a vote to increase taxes. It simply allows us to continue to move forward transparently in our goal to improve and expand Fire & EMS Services in Ector County as jointly agreed by all three entities,” said Russell Tippin, President & CEO of Medical Center Health System.

You can learn more about this ballot measure and the possible expansion of Fire and EMS services in Ector County, please v...