Guthrie County voters showed significant support for the EMS essential service tax but failed to meet the 60 percent requirement of yes votes to pass. During the general election on Tuesday, 6,153 Guthrie County residents placed their votes for the public measure, with 53% of votes in favor of the 75 cents per $1,000 taxable valuation levy that would raise $750,000 a year for the three EMS services: Panora EMS. Stuart Rescue and Adair Fire and Rescue. Sean Bovinett, Stuart Rescue EMS Director, says while some may view this as a failure, he believes otherwise.
The Guthrie County Board of Supervisors set up the advisory committee in February 2023, which consisted of 15 representatives supporting each EMS service. Bovinett was on the committee, which spent the next six to ten months reviewing what the EMS services needed and creating a broad plan to improve them.
The request for proposals was a chance for the three EMS organizations to ask for the money they think should be awarded to their team for the services they provide. If the levy would have passed, Panora EMS would be allocated 70 percent of the total levy, as they cover roughly 80 percent of the county, responding to an average of 900 calls a year. Stuart Rescue was to receive 23 percent of the remainder, with 7 percent saved for Adair Fire and Rescue. In its proposal, Panora EMS requested adding another ambulance to Guthrie Center to help reach more of the coverage area. Bovinett says that while he can’t know for sure, how the money was divided could be where the support shortfall came from.
Bovinett says he hopes the Board of Supervisors sees the support of the 53% of voters and starts the process of getting this back on the ballot.
With only days passing since the election, it is uncertain if the supervisors will start that process over again, but Bovinett is hopeful that the EMS essential levy will pass if it is placed on a ballot again.
