(Guthrie Center) According to emergency services officials, some rural Iowans had been at risk of not receiving ambulance services when needed. However, this could change now that counties can seek voter approval to raise property taxes to support their emergency medical services departments.
In 2021, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 615, granting counties the ability to classify emergency medical service (EMS) departments as essential county services, putting them on par with the state’s law enforcement and fire departments. This designation opens more funding opportunities for EMS departments across Iowa’s 99 counties. County boards of supervisors can propose a tax increase for approval by voters, with a 60% community approval requirement for the proposal to pass.
Two years ago, the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors appointed members to the EMS Advisory Council, one from each quadrant of the County and two Supervisors. A meeting on this issue is scheduled for Wednesday, July 10, at 7:00 p.m. in the public meeting room at the courthouse.
Guthrie County Auditor Dani Fink says the focus of the meeting is to bring in representatives from entities such as Panora EMS and Stuart EMS, as well as township representatives Jackson, Bear Grove, and Baker townships located in the middle area with their coverage, and what it might look like moving forward.
“It is about getting everyone in the room at the same table, hearing the same discussion, and having input to try and move forward to make a final decision,” said Fink.
Fink says they have areas well covered by EMS. However, she says there are some rural areas further out from where these ambulances are stationed to ensure coverage always remains. Dani Fink admits this is a new process, and time is needed for everyone to process it and come to the right agreement. It’s not going to happen overnight.