(Guthrie Center) The Guthrie County Board of Supervisors conducted a final look through the EMS presentation for the public meetings planned throughout the county over the next two weeks. The supervisors reviewed the power points and verbally blessed the presentation, starting this evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Bayard Community Building.
In 2021, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 615, allowing counties to designate emergency medical service (EMS) departments as essential county services, placing them equally with state law enforcement and fire departments.
The designation opens more funding opportunities to departments across Iowa’s 99 counties. A county’s board of supervisors can put up a tax for voters’ approval to benefit EMS departments. The vote must receive 60% approval from the community to pass.
Guthrie County Auditor Dani Fink says making EMS an essential service would mean citizens of Guthrie County would pay a 75-cent levy per $1,000. The vote for a tax levy on EMS Essential Service will be put on the ballot in November, with a 60% approval needed to pass the measure.
The Community meeting schedule is as follows:
October 1, Bayard Community Building-7:00 p.m.
October 3, Adair-Casey Junior High-7:00 p.m.
October 7-Morrisburg Church-7:00 p.m.
October 8-Bowman Chapel, in Bear Grove, Township-7:00 p.m.
October 9-West Central Valley High School-7:00 p.m.
October 10-ACGC Auditorium in Guthrie Center-7:00 p.m.
October 14-Yale Community Center-7:00 p.m.
October 16-Panorama High School-7:00 p.m.
Tuesday Afternoon News
