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Koochiching County schedules Feb. 24 hearing on proposed district to fund International Falls ambulance service
Summary
The Koochiching County Board set a Feb. 24 public hearing to consider creating a subordinate service district that would assess a flat fee on properties within the International Falls Ambulance Service area to fund ambulance operations; board members discussed boundaries, potential city levy adjustments and state EMS reimbursements.
Koochiching County officials on Jan. 13 set a public hearing for Feb. 24 to consider creating a subordinate service district intended to raise funding for the International Falls Ambulance Service. The board voted unanimously to schedule the hearing at the regular meeting (03:30) with public comment at 05:30.
Board staff described the proposal as a parcel-based, flat fee assessment that would appear on property tax statements and apply to properties within the IFASA 911 service area. Staff identified Minnesota Statutes §375B.04 and §394.26 as governing notification and hearing requirements for creating such a district.
Commissioners and staff discussed practical and jurisdictional issues: whether the assessment would replace or reduce an existing City of International Falls levy, how the district boundary would relate to properties both inside and outside city limits, and whether neighboring Saint Louis County could be included. One commissioner noted the city’s recent ambulance budget and state EMS payments, saying the city levied about $204,000–$207,000 this year and received roughly $232,000 in state EMS reimbursement in the same period.
Board members expressed interest in holding the hearing in the evening to maximize public attendance and asked staff to invite city officials to present their taxing plan and explain how any city levy adjustments would interact with the county proposal. The board voted to set the Feb. 24 hearing and directed staff to publish notice at least 10 days beforehand, as required by state statute.
Next steps include staff outreach to city representatives for coordinated information at the hearing and formal notice publication to the public. The hearing will determine whether the board proceeds with formation of the subordinate service district.
