 For the last six years I have had the honor of serving as President of the Community Chamber of Commerce of East Montgomery County and during that time I have witnessed many areas of success within our community. Much of that success has been driven by the one cent sales tax that the East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID) collects on taxable sales within their jurisdictional boundaries. Since their inception EMCID has continually recruited and brought new economic development opportunities to our community. Coupled with their community development grant program they have impacted thousands of lives each year. These efforts have been made possible by the one cent sales tax that we as purchasers pay on taxable items within EMCID’s boundaries. Two of our local emergency services districts (Porter Fire and New Caney Fire) each collect an additional half-cent within their respective service boundaries. Added to the state’s 6.25% this brings the total to 7.75% that we pay on taxable items. EMCID has recently authorized and called for a half-cent sales tax election that will bring the total collected to 8.25% just like everyone pays in all the surrounding areas. The election will be held on November 3rd with early voting the two weeks prior.
The passage of this additional half-cent will allow EMCID to provide additional funds to continue their economic and community development efforts but it will also directly impact our local fire protection. EMCID has entered into contractual agreements with all three local emergency services districts (New Caney, Porter and Splendora) to provide specific grants to them that will allow them to add twenty (20) additional firefighters to their rosters. Each respective fire department has specific plans as to how their personnel will be utilized. The bottom line is we will have more firefighters available throughout each day, thus providing faster response times and greater success when a fire does occur. Approximately half of the anticipated funds will be granted to the three fire departments. This election must pass in order for these grants to be awarded. The reason EMCID is calling this particular election, rather than the fire departments, is really very simple. EMCID was created by specific legislation that prevents any other entity from taking those tax funds away from them. If the fire departments were to hold and pass the election another entity could take those funds if their service area were to be annexed by that other entity. New Caney and Porter fire department’s existing half-cent sales tax could be taken away if this area was to be annexed by another entity. The current election will prevent that from happening. In summary the upcoming half-cent sales tax, upon passage by you the voters, will be collected by EMCID and they will use approximately half of the funds to continue their economic and community development efforts and the remaining funds will be granted to the three local fire departments to add twenty (20) additional firefighters to their staffs. These additional firefighters are greatly needed and I appreciate EMCID’s willingness to provide these grants to the fire departments to make this possible. I encourage each eligible voter to support this election and help us add the twenty additional firefighters to our local fire departments. Andy Dill, President
Community Chamber of Commerc of EMC Early Voting: New Caney Fire Department - 19870 FM 1485, New Caney October 26-30 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM Voting Day: Porter Fire Department Splendora Fire Department 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
