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Healthy financing called key to county ambulance plan
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By Bob Watson
bwatson@newstribune.com
For nearly two hours Tuesday night, Cole County commissioners presented their plan for a new ambulance service, at the first of two public hearings.
If county voters are to have a say in the Nov. 4 general election on a sales tax proposal to pay for the county's ambulance plan, commissioners must vote by next Tuesday to put the issue on the ballot.
“What is the solution on a comprehensive, countywide basis?” Presiding Commissioner Marc Ellinger asked, noting a Jefferson City government proposal adopted at Monday night's City Council meeting only involved service inside the city's boundaries.
“‘Where does the subsidy come from?' is the biggest difference,” Ellinger said. “In our plan, the subsidy comes from a sales tax and a corresponding reduction in property taxes.”
The county's plan would raise money through a half-cent sales tax, which voters would have to approve.
At least half of the money collected would be used to reduce taxes for all Cole County property owners, from the current 33.47 cents levy for each $100 in assessed value.
A 50 percent rollback would drop the county property tax rate to 14 cents per $100.
Commissioners also are considering a 60 percent rollback, which would make the county's property tax rate only 9.65 cents per $100 assessed value.
The rest of the money collected - estimated to be between $2 million and $2.55 million a year - would be used to pay for a countywide ambulance service and for an expansion of other health services now generally offered through the county health department.
Health Director Jane Hubbs told a reporter the goal is to supplement existing services where another agency already is providing them, such as the Dental, Eye and Shoe board.
An estimated $100,000-$200,000 a year would be placed in a reserve account as a cushion against unexpected expenses such as equipment replacement after an accident.
Western District Commissioner Chris Wrigley noted both Cole County and Jefferson City officials are looking at creating a new ambulance service, because Capital Region Medical Center wants to get out of the ambulance business.
Wrigley said hospital officials have “had an ongoing conversation with elected officials and policy makers for about the last four years ... about the condition of the ambulance service,” prompting a study over the past year where a number of local officials - including fire and ambulance service people - “looked at six delivery models” in other Missouri communities.
The county's proposal is an “option for a community-based ambulance service,” Wrigley said.
The county's plan would continue a one- or two-year contract with Capital Region while the county's service was developed more completely.
Third Ward City Councilman Brian Crane asked if the county shouldn't have that agreement tied-down before deciding to send the issue to voters, but Wrigley said that detail could be finalized later.
The city's plan begins with a property tax increase to get the operations going immediately, but eventually would replace that income with a sales tax.
Ellinger said Tuesday night the county's plan “is across the whole county, city and county.”
The goal, he said, is “to keep what we have, then work to make it better.”
Some kind of government subsidy will be required, he said.
“From what we've seen in every other location, with the exception of the one private service,” Ellinger explained, “everywhere there is ambulance service of any quality, there is some type of government subsidy, whether it's a property tax ... sales tax (or) something else.”
About two dozen people attended Tuesday night's hearing, with some asking questions but not taking a position on the county's plan.
Commissioners plans a second public hearing from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday in the commission's chambers on the second floor of the Courthouse Annex, 311 E. High St.
If county voters are to have a say in the Nov. 4 general election on a sales tax proposal to pay for the county's ambulance plan, commissioners must vote by next Tuesday to put the issue on the ballot.
“What is the solution on a comprehensive, countywide basis?” Presiding Commissioner Marc Ellinger asked, noting a Jefferson City government proposal adopted at Monday night's City Council meeting only involved service inside the city's boundaries.
“‘Where does the subsidy come from?' is the biggest difference,” Ellinger said. “In our plan, the subsidy comes from a sales tax and a corresponding reduction in property taxes.”
The county's plan would raise money through a half-cent sales tax, which voters would have to approve.
At least half of the money collected would be used to reduce taxes for all Cole County property owners, from the current 33.47 cents levy for each $100 in assessed value.
A 50 percent rollback would drop the county property tax rate to 14 cents per $100.
Commissioners also are considering a 60 percent rollback, which would make the county's property tax rate only 9.65 cents per $100 assessed value.
The rest of the money collected - estimated to be between $2 million and $2.55 million a year - would be used to pay for a countywide ambulance service and for an expansion of other health services now generally offered through the county health department.
Health Director Jane Hubbs told a reporter the goal is to supplement existing services where another agency already is providing them, such as the Dental, Eye and Shoe board.
An estimated $100,000-$200,000 a year would be placed in a reserve account as a cushion against unexpected expenses such as equipment replacement after an accident.
Western District Commissioner Chris Wrigley noted both Cole County and Jefferson City officials are looking at creating a new ambulance service, because Capital Region Medical Center wants to get out of the ambulance business.
Wrigley said hospital officials have “had an ongoing conversation with elected officials and policy makers for about the last four years ... about the condition of the ambulance service,” prompting a study over the past year where a number of local officials - including fire and ambulance service people - “looked at six delivery models” in other Missouri communities.
The county's proposal is an “option for a community-based ambulance service,” Wrigley said.
The county's plan would continue a one- or two-year contract with Capital Region while the county's service was developed more completely.
Third Ward City Councilman Brian Crane asked if the county shouldn't have that agreement tied-down before deciding to send the issue to voters, but Wrigley said that detail could be finalized later.
The city's plan begins with a property tax increase to get the operations going immediately, but eventually would replace that income with a sales tax.
Ellinger said Tuesday night the county's plan “is across the whole county, city and county.”
The goal, he said, is “to keep what we have, then work to make it better.”
Some kind of government subsidy will be required, he said.
“From what we've seen in every other location, with the exception of the one private service,” Ellinger explained, “everywhere there is ambulance service of any quality, there is some type of government subsidy, whether it's a property tax ... sales tax (or) something else.”
About two dozen people attended Tuesday night's hearing, with some asking questions but not taking a position on the county's plan.
Commissioners plans a second public hearing from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday in the commission's chambers on the second floor of the Courthouse Annex, 311 E. High St.
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boscoe wrote on Aug 26, 2008 11:29 AM:
Do not let the county commission pull the strings on this. "