Spring Fire Department wants to show homeowners exactly where one line on their property tax bill goes.

The department posted the first installment of a new video series on X and Facebook on Oct. 26, promising "we will take you behind the scenes with Harris County ESD No. 7 to see how your neighbors ensure tax dollars help Spring Firefighters respond to 9-1-1 calls across 62 square miles of north Harris County."

The department said additional installments would follow over the next couple of weeks. It invited residents to post questions in the comments.

What is HCESD7?

Harris County Emergency Services District No. 7 (HCESD7) is the political subdivision that funds local emergency services across the Spring area. Voters created the district on May 10, 1997, as the successor to Rural Fire Prevention District No. 1.

According to the district's website, HCESD7 serves an estimated 213,000 residents in roughly 64,331 homes. Both figures are expected to grow with development along the State Highway 99 corridor and in Springwoods Village, with the population projected to reach 225,000 by 2030.

The district levies an ad valorem tax of $0.10 per $100 of property valuation. It also collects a 1-cent sales and use tax from many businesses within its service territory, according to the district's website.

Who runs the district?

An elected board of five commissioners governs HCESD7. According to June 2026 board minutes, the current officers are Melanie Gander, president; Jessica Babendure, vice president; Jonathan Zitzmann, secretary; David Mills, treasurer; and Bob Schmanski, assistant treasurer. The board retained that slate by a 4-0 vote at its June 18 meeting.

The board meets on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Spring Fire Department Administration, 656 East Louetta Road. Meetings are open to the public.

Tax season context

The series arrives as Spring-area property owners sort through bills from multiple taxing entities. Spring ISD separately placed a Voter Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE), known as Proposition A, on the Nov. 3 ballot. That measure, if approved, would raise the school district's maintenance and operations tax rate by 2 cents to $1.1569 per $100 of property value, according to Spring ISD.

HCESD7 has no ballot proposition this cycle. Its video series is an educational effort, not a campaign.

Residents who want to follow the series can find updates on Spring Fire Department's X account (@SpringFDTX) and Facebook page.