MEDIC EMS funding and possible dedicated levy
Scott County took over the former nonprofit MEDIC EMS ambulance service due to financial struggles and now operates it as a county function with fee schedules, capital support, GEMT revenues, and potential rural expansions. Debate continues over whether to seek voter approval for a dedicated EMS property tax levy or income surtax under Iowa law; incumbents have said it currently fits the budget without an extra levy, while some candidates are more open, and fees have risen with inflation.
How should Scott County fund and sustain MEDIC EMS ambulance services?
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Sources
Quad-City Times — https://qctimes.com/news/local/government-politics/article_7ac7627d-f496-4b7b-8db2-f39c91d0b8c0.html
Debate over a dedicated EMS tax levy (Iowa law allows counties to declare EMS essential and seek voter approval for a property tax levy and/or income surtax...). Incumbents generally said it currently fits the budget and opposed an extra levy “at this time”; other candidates were more open. Fee increases have been approved to address inflation.
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
- Add a dedicated EMS levy plus expand preventative rural mobile health programs
- Pursue a modest voter-approved levy if needed to guarantee staffing and coverage
- Keep EMS in the general budget with fees and efficiencies, no new levy for now
- Rely primarily on higher user fees and cost controls without any new tax levy
- Minimize county EMS scope and shift more costs to private providers or users