Election roundup: Buffalo, Centerville, Jewett

Buffalo Mayor Royce Dawkins The much-debated decision to create a taxing district to fund emergency services in northern Leon County was settled on Election Day as citizens voted decisively in favor of ESD #4. While the county has been covered by ESDs #1, #2 and #3 for several years, the Buffalo/Flo/ Oakwood area had in the past repeatedly voted down measures to create an emergency services district to fund volunteer fire departments and ambulance services. Early this year, Palestine Regional Hospital had announced that they would pull out their unfunded ambulance service, effective April 7. Proponents of the ESD had hurried to get a proposition on the May ballot. Both supporters and opponents of the measure had launched strong campaigns. Apparently very few people were neutral on the issue.

As Election Day came to a close, the votes were tabulated and posted on the white boards on the Courthouse Square Saturday evening and the proposition for the creation of ESD #4 had passed by a more than a two-to-one margin, 737 to 315. The proposition passed at each individual polling place by the following margins: Precinct #10 Inside W Buffalo - FOR 48, AGAINST 9; Precinct #10 Outside W Buffalo - FOR 195, AGAINST 63; Precinct #11 Inside E Buffalo - FOR 231, AGAINST 62; Precinct #11, Outside E Buffalo - FOR 92, AGAINST 36; Precinct #12 Inside Oakwood - FOR 78, AGAINST 31; Precinct 12 Outside Oakwood - FOR 141, AGAINST 92; and Precinct #13 Flo - FOR 104, AGAINST 61.

Legacy EMS, which has based an ambulance in the Buffalo area for the past month on a temporary basis, has agreed to continue until a permanent contract is established between the ESD #4 and an ambulance service. The ESD #4 is expected to get a loan to fund the 24/7 service until property taxes are collected in the fall. Individuals USING the ambulance service will still be billed for the service.

The new tax to fund the ESD will be set by an appointed board, and cannot exceed ten cents per $100/property value. The Leon County Commissioners Court will appoint the initial five-member board in a special called meeting at 9:30 on Tuesday morning, May 12.