Ad-Express and Daily Iowegian, Centerville, IA

Local News

October 20, 2009

Emergency services tax up for renewal Nov. 3

Appanoose County voters will decide whether to renew for another five years a 1 percent income tax surcharge that helps fund area emergency medical services on Nov. 3.

This is a county-wide election and Public measure A which asks the question of whether the county should continue to impose an income tax surtax for emergency medical service will appear on all city ballots and on a ballot in the unincorporated areas of the county.

Fifteen years ago, the 1 percent income tax surcharge was first approved by local voters for funding EMS services, specifically for training and equipment. Last year the surcharge generated $63,000.

Mercy Medical Center – Centerville receives the largest share of the funds to support the county-wide ambulance service. The rest of the funds are dispersed to other Appanoose County communities providing emergency medical service through volunteer services. This includes first responder units in Moulton, Moravia, Mystic, Unionville, Southern Appanoose, Appanoose County Water Rescue and Seymour.

According to the 1997 Iowa individual income tax statistics report, the average tax payer in Appanoose County pays $931 in state income tax. For this amount, the 1 percent surtax would add $9.31 to the total of state income tax paid — less than three cents a day for EMS services.

Brenda Hoffman, president of the Appanoose County EMS Services, said the volunteer services depend on these funds. “We do not charge for calls in our service areas and this surtax provides the sole funding for our supplies, equipment and operating expense,” she stated.

Funds from the surtax have assisted Mercy Medical Center with the purchase of new ambulances over the years. The cost of a new ambulance alone is $128,000. According to hospital officials, the Mercy ambulance service loses an average of $184,000 a year operating the service.

“For the past 15 years, income from the surtax has not only assisted the hospital ambulance service but has benefited all First Responder groups throughout the county who until that time were supported strictly through donations and fundraisers, “ says a written statement from the Appanoose County Board of Supervisors. "The Appanoose County Board of Supervisors supports this measure as an economical solution to providing quality, county-wide ambulance and first responder emergency medical services.”

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Poll

So, the question this week is, “Will it stay or will it go?” The United States Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. wants to close three Farm Service Agency offices in southern Iowa, which includes the FSA office in Centerville, and consolidate the operations in order to save money. Tuesday afternoon a meeting was held at Faith United Methodist Church to allow farmers and other producers who use the Centerville FSA office to make comments about the closing to John R. Whitaker, state executive director Iowa FSA. Many questioned if the meeting Tuesday was necessary because the decision had already been made.

A. Yes, because Washington will listen.
B. No, because the decision to close the Appanoose County FSA office has already been made.
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