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Butler County officials discuss putting EMS essential-service question, tax levy on November ballot
Summary
County EMS coordinator briefed supervisors on service levels and equipment needs and supporters urged designating emergency medical services as an essential county service paid by a voter-approved levy; county attorney is drafting ballot language expected next week.
Chairman Wayne Dralle and the Butler County Board of Supervisors discussed whether to place an EMS essential-service question on the November ballot after an update from Kari Coates, the county’s EMS coordinator.
Coates told the board she provided an update on recent service calls and said five individuals completed an EMT course she previously offered. She outlined the types of equipment and supplies the county would purchase with tax dollars if voters approve making EMS an essential county service funded by a levy. Jodi Bangasser and John Wehling attended the meeting in support of recommending that EMS be designated an essential service and that a tax levy be used to cover qualifying costs.
The county attorney is drafting ballot language for the proposed question; Coates and the presenters said that language should be completed by next week. Board members discussed service improvements and how to maintain coverage so that all calls can be covered but did not take a formal vote during the July 23 meeting.
If adopted by voters, the essential-service designation would allow Butler County to levy taxes to fund equipment, supplies and other qualifying costs for EMS; specifics of the levy rate and duration were not specified at the meeting. The board’s next steps are to review the attorney’s ballot language when it is available and decide whether to place the question on the ballot.
