A critical item on the ballot in Leon County Saturday night had wide-reaching impact, and voters there have decided to raise property taxes in order to return permanent ambulance service to the area.

Drivers on I-45 between Houston and Dallas have Buffalo to pass through, but a wreck on that road has even deadlier consequences because northeast Leon County -- its residents and its passers-through -- have no permanent service, this after Palestine EMS had to back out of it's all-but-free coverage.

Saturday, voters have signed off on a 10-cent property tax increase in order to create an emergency service district, the fourth in Leon County, and restore permanent ambulance service to the thousands who live there and the thousands who pass through daily.

Three previous elections have seen an ESD on the ballot for that part of the county, but each failed.

Opponents of the plan said there were other ways to raise the funds needed, including a reworking of the sales tax. Some opponents even hypothesized that 9-1-1 calls would be answered by a company even if they weren't contracted to the area.

However, other ambulance service representatives told residents they could not answer calls for help even though they, as medical professionals, would desperately want to do so. Legally, the company's could be held liable if they left the areas they normally work in uncovered.

Besides the residents who live there, county officials say tens of thousands of motorists travel through the area on I-45 daily.

The county has hired Legacy EMS as a temporary provider of service.

County Judge Byron Ryder said once the votes have been canvased, a board for the ESD will be selected. Its first job will be to find the permanent ambulance provider. Ryder said that provider could be in place as early as the middle of June.

The judge also said Legacy will continue its temporary service until that company or another to provide permanent service is in place.