Wolfforth's mayor wants to establish an emergency services district in the Lubbock suburb and southwest Lubbock County, that could lead to more taxes for residents.
Mayor Charles Addington II said it is a way to bring long term financial stability to emergency services like Fire and EMS.
"It's a financial option, it's not an ATM or a bank for the city of Wolfforth," Addington said, "but rather a means to provide emergency services for in that particular area."
This could make Wolfforth's emergency volunteers full-time and paid. The area is roughly 85 square miles of southwest Lubbock County according to City Manager Darrell Newsom.
"It only affects the people in the area, it gives them say so and control in how their families, their farms and they're pets are protected so that's a big difference," Newsom said. "They have a lot more say so in where that money is spent."
Residents outside of Wolfforth said the possible property tax increase, a potential 10 cents per 100 dollars of property valuation, would pay for a service they may not even use. Breck Colquett, a Llano resident, said he believes the system will not benefit surrounding communities.
"When a call is given to 911 they dispatch to the voluntary fire department, 'You know you need to come,' and in fact if Wolfforth can be on there way then they will but there's a chain, " Colquett said. "And if not then Carlisle may be on their way, Woodrow may be on their way, Idalou whoever."
Addington said he disagrees.
"Everybody in that particular area will be getting the services," Addington said.
Colquett said he is upset with how little information surrounding areas have received about the proposal despite being potentially charged for the change.
"At the second meeting point blankly asked, 'why was nobody outside the City of Wolfforth notified?'" Colquett said. "And number two, 'what are you going to do with this money?' And basically no answer."
The third and final public hearing will take place Monday morning at the Lubbock County Commissioners Court.
