Ambulance district needs funds in wake of failed sales tax issue

By Colette Lefebvre-Davis

Herald-Tribune

Nevada, Mo. -- Tuesday, voters rejected a proposal to replace the Vernon County Ambulance District property tax levy with a county-wide 1/2-cent sales tax, and now the district is looking for ways to pay the bills.

"We won't be getting a new fleet, and we need two paramedics still," said VCAD director James McKenzie. The tax received 44 percent of the vote and 55 percent of voters voted no.

Similar taxes have passed in 28 counties in Missouri, including Vernon counties neighbors to the north, east and south -- Barton, Cedar and Dade.

"I think that the knowledge of the ballot wasn't there. It was confusing for people. Our language was not approved by Tammi Beach and Lynn Ewing, who rewrote the ballot," stated McKenzie.

McKenzie and his staff, are hit hard by this, soon they will be looking at cutting back on employee's insurance benefits and much more.

"The reason that it was not passed it first of all there wasn't any knowledge of the measure, there was misinformation out there," he said, referring to myths that had been circulated and that were reinforced by negative advertising.

The district will have a discussion at next Thursday's board meeting, the topic: What to do now? It's going to be all about juggling, McKenzie said.

"Just because we lost doesn't mean our insurance and utilities go down. It does not help us. We are not going to be able to place two new paramedics on our staff," said McKenzie.

In Vernon County, the paramedics' starting pay is $8 an hour, whereas in other neighboring counties it's about $9, McKenzie said. EMTs make even less, starting out at $7.25 an hour, according to McKenzie.

"It's not about money, but staff need to live. They still woke up (Wednesday) morning, jumped in their vehicles and are out rescuing those in need."