McPherson County commissioners on July 21 gave staff a consensus to pursue a countywide half-cent sales tax measure to fund five ambulance providers and mental-health services, and to explore lowering the county mill levy for those appropriations.

The proposal would ask voters in November to approve a 0.5-cent sales tax with proceeds split between ambulance service providers and mental-health funding; commissioners directed staff to meet with the providers to develop allocation percentages and an implementing resolution.

The county staff member who introduced the proposal said state statute allows a local option sales tax that can be used for hospitals, ambulances and mental health. He cited current county support this year of about $833,000 to five ambulance providers and approximately $265,000 for mental health. "With that in mind, a million 1, the county would following next year, we'll get lowering their mill levy to mills," the staff member said, summarizing fiscal effects discussed by staff.

Commissioners and staff discussed which agencies to include. The staff member recommended including the five ambulance providers (Lindsborg, McPherson, Moundridge, Canton Fire District and Marquette Fire District) and mental-health funding; he recommended leaving the county health department out of the initial proposal but noted the board could include it. "I'd recommend you leave it out, but it's your call," he told the board.

Commissioners emphasized that allocation percentages should be worked out by a committee of service providers before the board finalizes a resolution. "I think that's a committee that would have to sit down and says they want to have the percentages," one commissioner said. The staff member said any mill-levy reductions tied to the sales tax would be permanent and that the sales tax proposal would include a 10-year sunset.

The board directed staff to arrange a meeting with ambulance service providers within about 10 days to reach consensus on percentages and to return with draft language and allocations to permit a resolution to be prepared for submission by the county's deadline in September. Several commissioners voiced support for moving forward. "Yeah. I'm comfortable with it," one commissioner said.

No final vote or ordinance was taken; commissioners asked staff to continue stakeholder discussions and bring back detailed allocation proposals and a draft resolution for future consideration.

Less critical details: commissioners noted that moving to a sales tax shifts costs across a broader base of consumers rather than property owners, and that an approved sales tax would reduce county appropriations to those providers. Staff said the city of McPherson had also expressed comfort with pursuing the measure. The board gave verbal consensus to proceed with stakeholder meetings and preparation toward placing a question on the November ballot.