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Coweta commissioners back plan to create countywide EMS special tax district for transparency and possible bond funding
Summary
Board signaled consensus to pursue establishment of an EMS special tax district that would levy a visible EMS millage and could support bonds for ambulances and capital; staff said a prior-year required subsidy was about $3.85 million and the district would likely show as roughly 0.4 mills on the tax digest.
Coweta County commissioners discussed and signaled support for creating a countywide EMS special tax district during a March 28 work session, a change staff said would increase transparency by showing EMS as a separate line on tax bills and could enable bond financing for ambulances and other capital needs.
Why it matters: County staff told commissioners the EMS appropriation in the FY2025 budget required a subsidy of about $3.85 million. Staff estimated that, based on the prior digest, the equivalent levy would have been roughly 0.4 mills; making EMS a separate special tax district would remove that amount from the county’s general maintenance and operations millage and show it as an EMS line item on tax statements.
How it would work: Staff said the board can establish a special tax district by passing a resolution; the resolution is sent to the Georgia Department of Revenue and the tax commissioner so the district appears on the digest. Establishing the district does not require a public referendum; however, issuing bonds tied to the district would require voter approval by referendum.
Commissioners and staff discussed distribution of calls across incorporated areas and unincorporated areas and noted billing and third-party collections have improved with a contractor, reducing the general-fund subsidy. Staff and fire/EMS leadership said separating EMS funding clarifies what taxpayers pay for ambulance services and would allow debt instruments to be associated directly with EMS capital rather than with the general fund.
Several commissioners said they supported moving forward but asked staff to return with specifics before final action. Staff recommended a future agenda item to present ordinance/resolution language and actual millage-rate estimates based on the upcoming digest.
Ending: Staff said they would return with detailed options and draft resolution language; commissioners indicated consensus to move forward with work on establishing the EMS special tax district.
