Williamson County Emergency Services District No. 3 gave a resounding "no" to three options presented by the city in Hutto's attempt to renegotiate the sales-and-use tax sharing agreement between the pair.

It is just the latest salvo fired in what is turning into a duel between the county fire service and the city's plans to build its own fire station.

In a letter dated Sept. 8, Fire Chief Scott Kerwood told City Manager James Earp that ESD No. 3, also known as Hutto Fire Rescue, would not pursue the suggestions presented by the City Council Aug. 7. "The issue before us should not be which entity receives the greater share of sales-tax revenue. The issue is whether the community will have the resources necessary to provide the right people, equipment facilities and emergency-response capabilities when they are needed," Kerwood said in his letter.