BASTROP COUNTY, Texas -- After a decade without fire service, communities in Bastrop County will have second chance at coverage.

In 2003, a vote to add communities to Bastrop County Emergency Services District 1 was rejected by voters. In turn, certain neighbors on FM 535, FM 812 and a small area south of TX-71 were left without an official district.

Over those 14 years, volunteer fire departments serving the areas closed down. Bastrop County ESD 1 helped out the communities, which currently don’t pay the appropriate taxes, but that will soon change.

“We need them to come up with a solution because the whole place is in jeopardy now,” said Sergio Duron, a resident of Stoney Point.

If the propositions on the ballot fail to pass, neighbors could receive bills totaling thousands of dollars.

“We need to get it cleared up, so we can provide equal fire service to everybody. Today, if we have two fires, we have to respond to the fires that are in our district first,” said David Gahagan, board president for ESD 1.

Duron says many residents in the area don’t grasp the situation or see the importance of going out and voting.

“A lot of our people, they are too busy trying to make a living,” explained Duron. “They think everything is automatic, but it’s not on.”

Gahagan says for the average home, taxes for the areas affected will only cost about $70 to $100.