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Adams County EMS warns it could lose half its staff if levy fails; commissioners approve 3.5-mill levy request
Summary
Adams County commissioners accepted two paramedic resignations and voted to seek a 3.5-mill, five-year property tax levy for EMS after Chief Dusty McCleese said the service could lose about half its staff if the levy is rejected.
Adams County commissioners on Jan. 20 accepted two full-time paramedic resignations and voted to seek a 3.5-mill additional property tax levy for five years to support Emergency Medical Services, after EMS Chief Dusty McCleese said the service could lose approximately 50% of its staff if the levy fails.
Chief McCleese and Office Manager Samantha Young reported that EMS handled 82 runs and is facing personnel pressures, including overtime restrictions and recent resignations. The board accepted the resignation of Mysti Hixson effective Jan. 28, 2026, and Christopher Williams effective Jan. 31, 2026; both motions passed on unanimous roll-call votes of the members present (Moore Holt Aye; Jones Aye; Hayslip absent).
Following those personnel actions, commissioners approved a motion to seek a 3.5-mill additional levy for a five-year period commencing in tax year 2026, with the first collection due in calendar year 2027. The resolution (Res. 2026-024) also directed the Adams County Auditor to prepare a Certificate of Estimated Property Tax under Sec. 5705.19U of the Ohio Revised Code. The motion was moved by Kelly Jones, seconded by Barbara Moore Holt, and recorded as Moore Holt Aye, Jones Aye, Hayslip Absent.
The levy request came after Chief McCleese told the board he anticipates losing as much as half his staff if new levy revenue is not approved. That projection was presented as the chief’s staffing forecast rather than a formal staffing audit; commissioners did not vote on staffing changes at the meeting.
The board took no further policy action at the session on how levy revenue would be spent beyond seeking the auditor’s certificate; next steps include completing the certification and any subsequent election scheduling or campaign decisions. The meeting record shows no formal opposition recorded to placing the levy on the ballot.
Actions recorded in the meeting include the acceptance of two resignations (Res. 2026-022 and Res. 2026-023) and approval of the levy-seeking resolution (Res. 2026-024).
