HC Supervisors approve suspension of taxes on three properties, continue discussion on EMS service

MT. PLEASANT - The Henry County Board of Supervisors approved the suspension of taxes on three properties and are continuing discussions about the potential transfer of EMS services to the county.

The suspension of taxes comes from the Department of Human Services, who prove the individuals who own the properties 'don't have enough money and [the Supervisors] can suspend their taxes,” board chairman Marc Lindeen, explained at their meeting Thursday morning.

'It's state law - we have to do it,” supervisor Gary See, added.

Supervisor Greg Moeller said the board gets a list of properties every year and usually sees seven to eight properties whose taxes have been suspended.

'This is the fewest we've had in a while … This is a suspension, not a waiving,” Moeller explained.

Following a work session the previous day, the supervisors said they are continuing to determine a potential budget should the county take over EMS services for the county.

'We have a number in mind, but how much we would ask for [in a tax levy] is another question,” Lindeen said.

Moeller also noted legislation at the state level that would have acknowledged EMS as an essential service and allowed county supervisors 'to levy without going to a vote” was not passed. The supervisors will have to move forward with a special election in September, which will ask taxpayers of the county to allow taxes to be levied for the service.

Lindeen also noted the Henry County Health Center is hoping the county will take over the service by July 1, 2021 but because the county's fiscal year and collection of taxes does not align with HCHC's fiscal timeline, the desired start date may be difficult to achieve.

'We say there's no way. Can we wait six months to get back revenues? Can we wait three-quarters of a year and then take over? Those are the things we need to be figuring out,” Lindeen said.