City preparing to educate about EMS levy
New millage would mean an extra $7 per $100,000
The public safety committee is working to get the word out about the upcoming EMS levy. File photo
WADSWORTH – When voters head to the polls May 2, they will be asked if they want to approve a 2.3 mill renewal EMS levy with a .2 mill increase. The city’s current 2.3 mill EMS levy will expire at the end of this year.
“The levy will cost $71.23 per year per $100,000 valuation,” Safety Director Matt Hiscock said during a recent public safety committee meeting. “That is approximately $7 more than what property owners are currently paying. This is a vitally important item and we will be providing more education materials at events as we get closer to Election Day.”
Councilor Bob Titus agreed that the increase is minimal, but added he is cognizant of those who are on a fixed budget.
“Still, I think we do a good job at keeping this minimal,” he said.
“A lot of analysis went into this. We looked at where expenses were,” Hiscock said. “We stayed with the same millage for a decade and have worked to work within our means. We are not doing anything additional, but we are just trying to keep up with expenses.”
“I think when you look around at surrounding communities you can see what a great deal our citizens get for the level of service,” Councilor John Sharkey said.
Fire Chief Carl Rommel has said the fire department ran about 2,000 EMS calls since the last levy and said they were up about 200 calls during that period of time.
Hiscock has said that according to the Medina County Auditor’s office, the current EMS levy had an effective rate of 2.28 mills in 2015 and collected a gross amount of slightly more than $1 million. After state mandated homestead, rollbacks and state fee reductions, the city received an estimated $871,835 from levy collections in 2015. EMS levy collections in this amount equates to approximately 47 percent of total 2017 EMS revenues and expenses. Approximately 29 percent of EMS revenue is generated from EMS billing and approximately 12 percent comes from a contract with Wadsworth Township.
Hiscock said the city began providing EMS services in 1982 and currently provides the highest level of EMS services available in Ohio, known as Advanced Life Support.
The levy provides funding for both the operations of the department such as staffing, training, drugs, supplies and maintenance as well as the capital costs of the department such as ambulances, heart monitors, automated cots and CPR machines.
“The levy will cost $71.23 per year per $100,000 valuation,” Safety Director Matt Hiscock said during a recent public safety committee meeting. “That is approximately $7 more than what property owners are currently paying. This is a vitally important item and we will be providing more education materials at events as we get closer to Election Day.”
Councilor Bob Titus agreed that the increase is minimal, but added he is cognizant of those who are on a fixed budget.
“Still, I think we do a good job at keeping this minimal,” he said.
“A lot of analysis went into this. We looked at where expenses were,” Hiscock said. “We stayed with the same millage for a decade and have worked to work within our means. We are not doing anything additional, but we are just trying to keep up with expenses.”
“I think when you look around at surrounding communities you can see what a great deal our citizens get for the level of service,” Councilor John Sharkey said.
Fire Chief Carl Rommel has said the fire department ran about 2,000 EMS calls since the last levy and said they were up about 200 calls during that period of time.
Hiscock has said that according to the Medina County Auditor’s office, the current EMS levy had an effective rate of 2.28 mills in 2015 and collected a gross amount of slightly more than $1 million. After state mandated homestead, rollbacks and state fee reductions, the city received an estimated $871,835 from levy collections in 2015. EMS levy collections in this amount equates to approximately 47 percent of total 2017 EMS revenues and expenses. Approximately 29 percent of EMS revenue is generated from EMS billing and approximately 12 percent comes from a contract with Wadsworth Township.
Hiscock said the city began providing EMS services in 1982 and currently provides the highest level of EMS services available in Ohio, known as Advanced Life Support.
The levy provides funding for both the operations of the department such as staffing, training, drugs, supplies and maintenance as well as the capital costs of the department such as ambulances, heart monitors, automated cots and CPR machines.