The Grayson County Commissioners hosted a Town Hall meeting in Whitesboro Tuesday night to answer questions about their recent proposal of a 1.5% sales tax for unincorporated areas in the county.
The tax would be used to offset the cost of providing fire/EMS services to areas outside the city limits. Any excess funds could then be used toward bridges/roads and law enforcement/detention services.
As population grows, so does the demand for emergency services. Currently, citizens within city limits pay sales tax which the city collects and uses for things like emergency services. There is no sales tax in unincorporated areas of the county (areas outside the city limits), so the county provides a stipend to municipalities for those areas.
In 2023, Grayson County provided $1.5 million to those areas. In 2025, it was $2.9 million. In 2026, they’re anticipating spending $3.2 million.
The commissioners assert that the idea of a sales tax for unincorporated areas would be a fair and sustainable way to provide emergency services without breaking the bank.
“It’s a way for growth to pay for growth,” Grayson County Judge Bruce Dawsey said.
Dawsey and County Commissioner Lindsay Wright clarified that this tax would strictly be a consumption tax (NOT a property tax) to be collected by businesses outside city limits, including from visitors and tourists to Grayson County (and Lake Texoma).
“The 1.5% sales tax in unincorporated areas would still be less than the 2% sales tax you pay in the city limits,” Dawsey said.
The commissioners also showed the audience a sample ballot, which states that people are voting for a tax increase but (due to state regulations) does not specify that the increase would be used for fire/EMS services. The commissioners assured the audience that’s how the money would be used.
Several attendees asked questions, such as will the tax increase over time (while that’s not the commissioners’ intent, the highest it could be is 2%); will money be allocated based on call volume (no, it will be based on contract negotiations as distribution is currently determined); and could the funds pay for warning sirens in unincorporated areas (that could be considered for the future, but for now that’s not the plan).
The proposed sales tax would exclusively be for citizens in unincorporated areas, therefore those are the only citizens who can vote on this matter in November.
To learn more about this proposed sales tax, visit www.co.grayson.tx.us/page/CountyAssistanceDistrict