Proposition B Frequently Asked Questions

Proposition B amends the Round Rock Home Rule Charter to require the City to meet nationally recognized emergency response performance standards known as NFPA 1710.
It establishes measurable benchmarks for call answering, dispatch processing, turnout time, travel time, and effective response force arrival. It also requires independent review and accountability every two years.

NFPA 1710 is the nationally recognized standard that defines performance objectives for career fire departments. It sets benchmarks for how quickly 911 calls are answered, processed, and how fast emergency crews arrive with sufficient resources to handle the emergency safely and effectively.  Year after year the Round Rock Fire Department does not meet those national standards.  
These standards exist because survival outcomes depend on timely response.

In 2024, the City commissioned an independent Standard of Cover study to evaluate emergency response performance. That report identified the need to establish benchmark performance objectives and outlined deployment improvement opportunities as Round Rock continues to grow.
Proposition B ensures those benchmarks are clearly defined, consistently measured, and enforceable.
Without formal adoption, those benchmarks remain recommendations rather than enforceable standards.

No.
The standards already exist nationally. Proposition B requires Round Rock to meet those nationally recognized benchmarks and establishes deadlines for compliance.

*** The City says it already meets these standards. If that is true, why is this necessary?

Mayors, City Managers, City Councilors, and Fire Chiefs come and go. Proposition B ensures these standards are always met. If the City consistently meets national performance benchmarks, then Proposition B simply formalizes and protects that level of performance.

If improvements are needed, Proposition B ensures they are made in a timely manner.

Either way, the community benefits from measurable and enforceable standards, even as elected and appointed city leaders change.

Proposition B requires the City to meet nationally recognized performance objectives. It ensures that emergency response performance is measured against clear benchmarks and independently reviewed.
It creates accountability for meeting those benchmarks.

Proposition B does not set tax rates.
It establishes performance standards and phased compliance deadlines. Budget decisions remain with City leadership and voters.
through the normal budget process.
The measure focuses on ensuring that public safety performance is measurable, transparent, and accountable.

Effective response force refers to the number of responders required to safely and effectively manage certain types of emergencies, such as structure fires.
NFPA 1710 defines performance objectives for how quickly that level of response should arrive on scene.
These benchmarks exist to improve safety outcomes and operational effectiveness.

Proposition B requires a biennial independent analysis to evaluate compliance with performance benchmarks.
Independent review provides transparency and objective measurement. It ensures performance data is evaluated consistently and publicly.

Proposition B includes enforcement provisions to ensure compliance with the established benchmarks.
The goal of enforcement is compliance and accountability, not litigation.
Accountability ensures performance objectives are not simply recommendations, but measurable requirements.

No.
This is about measurable emergency response performance and accountability.
When residents call 911, they expect a professional, timely response. Proposition B ensures that expectation is supported by nationally recognized benchmarks.

Round Rock has grown significantly and is projected to continue growing.
As communities expand, emergency response systems must adapt. Proposition B ensures performance benchmarks keep pace with growth.
 
At its core, this measure is about ensuring that when someone in Round Rock calls 911 on their worst day, the system is built to respond with measurable reliability, and provide the level of public safety we all expect and deserve.