Henry County, hospital look for agreement on levy for voters

MT. PLEASANT - The Mt. Pleasant Board of Supervisors will begin drafting an agreement with the Henry County Health Center as the county prepares to present a levy to voters in November, which will support emergency medical services.

Following monthslong discussions about the county taking over EMS, the hospital suggested in late-June the county instead supplement continued operations under the Henry County Health Center. The county would levy to help offset the approximately $670,000 losses in reimbursements the hospital faces for continuing to provide the service.

At the board's meeting on Thursday, the supervisors confirmed in a phone call with attorneys from Ahlers & Cooney that they would be able to levy a tax supporting ambulance services.

Iowa state code allows counties to establish a special levy and does not stipulate who must run the service. The county is 'authorized to provide those funds, even if [the service] is operated by a third party,” the attorneys noted.

Board member Greg Moeller asked whether specific items the levy would support would have to be enumerated on the ballot. Ahlers & Cooney attorney Steve Nadel explained a list would not be required but language in the levy would tie the funds to specific expenditures. Nadel said the hospital is currently gathering information on EMS operation costs from the last five years and will most likely come up with 'specific categories” to tie funds to.

Moving forward, the board will need to determine the extent of support the levy will provide to the hospital. Nadel noted the board would choose whether to 'cover the losses, share in a portion of the losses or provide as much support as possible up to any statutory tax.”

Nadel noted the goal the supervisors set will affect the drafting of the agreement between the county and the hospital. The board would have to decide whether to go with a set levy amount or a rate, the latter of which would fluctuate year-to-year. Nadel added if work on the agreement stays on track, the supervisors would be able to present the levy to voters during the general election.

Board member Marc Lindeen said the supervisors would wait for information from the hospital about operation costs before reconvening to discuss the details of both the agreement and levy.