ehsed.org

What It Is

EHSED (Emerald Hills Safety Enhancement District) is a special community safety enhancement taxing district established in the City of Hollywood, Florida, USA. After the neighborhood experienced rising crime, residents had previously hired private patrols on their own. In 2017, the Hollywood City Commission formally created the district by ordinance, applying a “fair share” model that charges all property owners within the district an annual assessment to fund off-duty Hollywood police officers for additional neighborhood patrol services.

Core Features

The district’s core service is a patrol team staffed by certified police officers. Patrol officers carry work phones, allowing residents within the district to call them directly during patrol hours. It also provides vacation home watch logs to help identify unusual activity while homeowners are away. The website also serves as a public records and transparency portal, offering access to board meeting agendas, minutes, annual reports, resolutions, financial budgets, and other documents to ensure compliant and transparent district operations.

Pricing

The district is funded through an annual assessment on properties within its boundaries, capped at $250 per property per year. This fee is collected by the Broward County Tax Collector as a non-ad valorem assessment on the property tax bill. It is primarily used to pay patrol officers’ compensation and cover the district’s routine administrative operating costs.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Increases police presence and deterrence in the neighborhood; residents can contact patrol officers directly, offering faster response than standard emergency reporting in some situations; the $250 annual fee is lower than the cost of hiring private security; as an officially authorized entity, its finances and resolutions are public and transparent.
Cons: Services are limited to residents within specific district boundaries; patrol coverage is time-limited and not 24/7; the fee is mandatory for property owners within the district, regardless of whether they personally need the service.

Who It’s For

Only relevant to property owners and residents living within the designated boundaries of the Emerald Hills Safety Enhancement District. It has no service value for people outside the district.

Access from China

This is a community information and public disclosure website with a local government function in the United States. It is directly accessible from mainland China, with smooth access and no restrictions.