ESD 3 approves first budget

    Jackson County Emergency Services District No. 3 commissioners approved its 2014 budget on Sept. 26 during a regular meeting. Jake Srp, chairman of ESD No. 3, said it is a balanced budget. The total budget is $541,500 and the total tax rate is set at 10 cents per $100 valuation for residents in the Edna Independent School District.
    Srp said the total budget is a rough estimate so the ESD could spend more or less.
    “This is our best guess budget for our first year,” he said. “Hopefully, these numbers will work out next year so we have a better idea if we need to make any adjustments or anything like that.”
    On Sept. 19, the Edna City Council approved a contract to provide fire and emergency management services for ESD 3. The ESD is levying a 10 cent per hundred valuation for residents in the Edna Independent School District. The ESD will pay the City of Edna $450,000 for fire/EMS service the first year of the contract, with a 2.5 percent increase the following year. As per the agreement, the City of Edna will contribute the funds necessary to balance the budget.