The Webster County EMS Advisory Council on Aug. 27 approved a framework document to guide county 28E agreements that will allocate and govern county EMS funding and service obligations, and agreed to forward that framework to the county attorney and the Board of Supervisors for drafting and final action.
The two-page framework approved by the council lays out a 20/80-style agreement structure, service-coverage and response obligations, funding distribution formulas and budget flow, proposals for handling large-ticket items (items above $50,000 identified in the draft), and requirements for audits and 4 22 d compliance. The council described the formula as: use an estimated 95% collection rate, deduct coordinator and non-transport funds, then divide remaining funds according to the transport-services formula discussed in meetings.
Council members discussed whether an additional needs assessment is needed; some said prior meetings and earlier inventories serve that purpose, while others emphasized that Iowa code requires annual needs and performance reports that will inform future adjustments. Several council members noted that state auditors and other counties are still developing practices for these agreements; the council cited Jones County as the closest comparison found and said county attorney Darren needs guidance to draft individual agreements. UnityPoint Health notified the council it is withdrawing an inquiry for funding at this time. One speaker, Marty Smith, Otho Fire Chief, requested that Otho be included in the budget and said his department has handled most transport calls since local transport began in February. The council approved the framework as a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, allowing for future amendments as local needs and valuations change.
Council members said the financial flow will be handled through county finance and aligned with the property-tax cycle; early tax collections in September are expected to allow spending after finalization in October. The council also agreed that the coordinator and the council will help evaluate annual adjustments to the formula, and that third-party audits and county accounting will be used to provide accountability.