LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 29, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Tom Ramsay, Chair, House Committee on County
               Affairs
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB2744  by Carter (Relating to emergency services and
               rural fire prevention districts.), Committee Report 1st
               House, Substituted
  
**************************************************************************
*  No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.                    *
**************************************************************************
  
The bill would limit the tax rate a county, other than Harris County,
could impose for creating and operating an emergency services or rural
fire prevention district to no more than $0.10 on each $100 of the
taxable value of property taxable by the district. An election would be
required to be held and proposal approved before the tax rate could be
raised and would be limited to the $0.10 on each $100 ceiling. (Harris
County is limited to $0.03 on each $100 taxable value of applicable
property.)

The bill would also allow for the transfer of territory between emergency
services and rural fire prevention districts, would amend limitations on
indebtedness of districts, and allow for a district board to borrow
money and make other financial arrangements to purchase real property.
  
Local Government Impact
  
The State Firemen's and Fire Marshal's Association of Texas was contacted
regarding the fiscal impact to the districts.

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   
LBB Staff:         JK, DB