Floyd County Essential EMS Resolution to Be on November Ballot
A resolution to deem emergency medical services (EMS) essential in Floyd County will be put to a public vote this fall.
During their regular meeting Monday, the Floyd County Board of Supervisors approved putting the measure on the ballot during the general election in November. While an EMS Advisory Council has recommended helping fund ambulances and first responders through a tax levy to generate up to $556,000 a year for 10 years, Supervisor Roy Schwickerath says voters must first declare EMS essential.
Schwickerath added that with rising costs for all entities that provide EMS in the County, it’s difficult to predict what services would look like down the road without the proper funding.
It remains to be seen if EMS revenue will be funded through property tax, an income surcharge, or a combination of both, but the resolution allows for the Board of Supervisors to adjust as needed. It would be one of the first major decisions for a board that will be made up of three new supervisors come January 1, 2023.
Still, before any of that to occur, the essential EMS resolution must pass by a required 60% majority this November. If the measure fails, it would be another two years before it could be put up for vote again, unless a special election was called.
