Henry County EMS special election set for Sept. 10

MT. PLEASANT — In June, the Henry County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution declaring Henry County Emergency Medical Services (HCEMS) as an essential county service. The next step is for county residents to vote at a special election on Sept. 10 to approve a tax levy for EMS programming.

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Early voting starts Aug. 21 in the Henry County Courthouse second floor conference room. Courthouse hours are 8 a.m. — 4:30 p.m. On Sept. 10, voting will occur in the normal polling locations.

HCEMS is currently owned and operated by Henry County Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Memorial Hospital. Due to the current property tax cap for HCEMS under hospital ownership, the hospital cannot continue to offer HCEMS and cover the revenue shortfalls.

The state trend shows that the former model of EMS is no longer viable. As of November 2023, 12 Iowa counties have received voter approval to levy for EMS programming. Nearly a dozen additional counties in Iowa are seeking public support in upcoming elections and/or are working on proposals to do so.

Several entities in Henry County have supported the Essential Services EMS Tax through resolutions, letters of support or community hearings. The groups passing resolutions include the City Councils of Winfield, Mt. Pleasant, Salem, Wayland, New London, and the Henry County Democratic Central Committee. Letters of Support have been received from the Mount Pleasant Area Development Commission and HCHC Inc. board of directors. Other groups have EMS on their agendas to cover at upcoming meetings.

HCEMS provides vital emergency medical services for Henry County residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These services include: emergency medical care, critical care transfers, medical transports, education and support to county first responders, public health education, and special event coverage.

“The ultimate goal for Henry County Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Memorial Hospital is to keep EMS in Henry County to continue to meet the emergency medical needs of area residents,” explained Henry County Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Memorial Hospital Board of Trustee Chair Joel Prottsman. “EMS is without a doubt an essential service, and to keep the service in Henry County for years to come, we need public support. The proposed EMS tax levy will require 60% voter approval on September 10.”

A YES vote on Sept. 10 means that EMS will stay in Henry County, continuing to serve the emergency health care needs of area residents. If the vote passes, the current $0.27 hospital ambulance levy will go away. A new county ambulance tax levy of $0.75 will instead be implemented, which is a $0.48 increase over the current hospital ambulance levy rate. A NO vote on Sept. 10 means that future sustainability of EMS in Henry County is at risk.

Additional information about EMS as an essential service can be found at this link: https://henrycountyemsia.org/hcems-is-essential. On Friday, Sept. 6, more information also will be available on KILJ Radio (105.5 FM) at 8 a.m.