Weston County meeting explores forming EMS taxing district to fund ambulances

At a public meeting in Newcastle, Weston County officials, EMS representatives and residents discussed forming an emergency medical services (EMS) taxing district that could let voters approve a property tax mill levy to fund ambulances, equipment and staffing.

Supporters said a district would give the county a dedicated funding stream — starting with a voter-approved 2 mills and potentially adding hours or additional levies later — to subsidize current coverage or buy county-owned ambulances if private providers leave. Organizers and EMS staff repeatedly stressed the mill levy would not be automatic: the county could form a district and appoint a board, but any tax levy would require voter approval.

Why it matters: Weston County relies on a mix of local ambulances, volunteer responders and contracted services from neighboring counties. Several speakers warned that lower reimbursements from insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, and recent property-tax changes, have strained rural ambulance operations and increased the chance of longer response times or service gaps.

Key points from the meeting

• How a district would work: A county resolution could create an EMS district and a board (up to seven members, by example), but the mill levy would go to the ballot for voter approval. As described at the meeting, an initial 2-mill levy on a $100,000 home was estimated to cost roughly $70 per year; speakers noted the board could later seek additional levies so total levies could rise (speakers described scenarios up to a combined 4 mills).

• Uses of revenue: Meeting presenters described several possible uses: subsidizing continued coverage from Campbell County or other providers, purchasing ambulances owned by the county to avoid losing equipment to private buyers, and matching grants that require local funds. Presenters said the district could improve the county’s ability to pursue grants and provide local matching funds.

• State funding and limits: Presenters warned state-level funding is limited. Mineral-royalty grants were described as available but lean; participants also cited Medicaid/Medicare reimbursement programs (an "upper payment limit" arrangement) and other small grant programs as possible revenue sources but not substitutes for a local mill levy.

• Staffing and training: EMS staff described recruitment and training efforts, including free or reimbursable classroom training supported by the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services and local mentorship programs to bring new personnel into the pipeline. County organizers said volunteer backup is used now but is not sufficient to guarantee 24/7 staffed ambulances.

• Local conditions and trade-offs: Several residents recounted personal emergencies to underscore response-time concerns. Speakers noted the county’s low tax base (a comment that 1 mill yields about $300,000 in some counties), and that landlords, large landowners and infrastructure owners pay substantial shares of property taxes but may not frequently use ambulance services.

• Next steps and timeline: The county has secured a third-party EMS needs assessment by Safetec Solutions. Project staff said Safetec will spend one day in Newcastle and additional days in neighboring counties as part of a three-phase process; a written report is expected about one to two months after the site visits, with a later implementation phase if changes are recommended. Organizers also listed two upcoming public meetings referenced at the session: April 18 (unspecified location) and August 18 in Upton at the Community Center.

Discussion vs. decision

• Discussion only: The meeting was informational and included community comments and questions; participants discussed options for funding, local staffing, and how an EMS district might operate.

• Direction/assignment: Organizers are proceeding with the Safetec Solutions needs assessment and plan to continue outreach and education before any ballot measure. Staff said they would produce heat maps of call density for the county and share them publicly.

• Formal action: No formal motion or vote to create an EMS district or levy taxes was recorded at the meeting.

Selected quotes

"We as board of commissioners, we have the ability to form an EMS district. We won't run it. We will appoint up to 7 members... The mill levy won't be mandatory. It'll have to go in front of the voters," the Campbell County EMS representative said.

"If your property is valued at $100,000, your tax will go up roughly $70," a resident said to illustrate the potential cost of a 2-mill levy.

"There's a lot of counties right now that don't have a 911. Let alone a transfer ambulance," the Campbell County EMS representative said, urging local planning and funding.

Ending

Organizers emphasized public education and further community outreach before any ballot question. The Safetec Solutions assessment and follow-up public presentations were presented as the immediate next steps; no binding county decision or tax levy was adopted at the meeting.