Bullard Fire Chief Keith Newburn attended a meeting Wednesday, Aug. 11, to keep the area’s Emergency Service District.

According to Newburn, a group of taxpayers said they wanted to make sure officials who use the ESD are being held accountable.

“We submit all our bills to the (ESD) board,” Newburn said. “We already have checks and balances in place.”

EDSs are political subdivisions of Texas entrusted with providing emergency medical and fire services to many unincorporated areas of the state and, as such, are required to comply with all of the open government laws in addition to the health codes and regulations of emergency services providers.

The benefits of being a part of an ESD include possible grants for life-saving equipment and more.

The Bullard Volunteer Fire Department’s ESD includes the area inside the boundaries of Smith County except within the city limits of Lindale, Tyler and Whitehouse.

Newburn said he staffs two full-time firefighters at the Bullard station and one fulltime firefighter at the Teaselville station.

Newburn also said a public hearing will be at 6 p.m. today, Aug. 18, at the Energy Center, 719 W. Front St., in Tyler, to set the ESD tax rate. The rate is .00850 (or .85 per $100 valuation) and officials are seeking a rate hike to set the it at .00861. If the rate is approved, it will be adopted Thursday, Aug. 26.