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Ada County EMS approves grant application, seeks tax-increment data after state law lets fire/EMS districts opt out of TIFs
Summary
The Ada County Board acting as the EMS district approved a grant application for child emergency restraints and complied with a new state-law timeline to request tax-increment (TIF) accounting; staff reported the county EMS share of potentially recoverable increment at about $306,800.
The Ada County Board, acting as the Board of County Emergency Medical Services District, approved an application for a Western Idaho Healthcare Coalition grant to purchase emergency child restraints and moved to collect tax-increment financing (TIF) accounting after a recent state law allowing fire and EMS districts to withdraw from TIFs.
Grant approval: The board voted to approve Grant 2508-A and authorized Deputy Chief Peter Hulman to complete and submit the online application to the Western Idaho Healthcare Coalition for purchase of emergency child restraints. Staff described the equipment as an updated restraint system adaptable to multiple child sizes; the motion passed on a voice vote.
GMT cost report payment update: EMS staff reported a separate funding update: the district must submit cost reports to the state by Aug. 31 to claim reimbursement under a recently implemented program. Staff said the first payment is expected in October and estimated the total backdated payment will be between $3 million and $4 million for the countywide program; staff advised caution about counting that revenue in the current fiscal year’s budget because timing is uncertain.
TIF withdrawal and accounting request: Commissioners discussed recently passed legislation that permits fire districts and EMS districts to request release from TIFs (tax increment financing areas). Ada County EMS staff requested the statutorily required accounting from the county clerk’s office by the May 1 deadline; staff reported that requirement was met and that affected urban renewal districts were simultaneously transmitted the accounting.
Potential revenue and timeline: County staff and counsel discussed next steps and statutory timelines. On the record, the EMS portion of recoverable increment across affected urban renewal areas was shown as $306,799.66 on the county spreadsheet provided to EMS staff. Under the new law, districts must submit a resolution (staff indicated that a resolution should be prepared and submitted for the board’s consideration before June 1) and urban renewal agencies will analyze bonds and budgets to determine whether increment can be released.
Why it matters: If an EMS district successfully withdraws from an urban renewal district’s TIF, the district may receive tax increment payments that previously flowed to the urban renewal agency; for Ada County EMS the amount shown on the county accounting is approximately $306,800. Commissioners directed staff to prepare a resolution quickly so affected urban renewal districts have time to analyze bond obligations and respond within the statutory schedule.
Next steps: EMS staff will (1) submit the grant application as authorized, (2) prepare a resolution for the board to request release from qualifying TIFs and (3) work with county counsel and the clerk’s office to track urban renewal responses and any bond-related constraints.
