After the Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill in 2021 that allowed Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to become an essential service, and thus, be funded through separate tax levies, officials in Marion County have spent the better part of the past year exploring options on how to distribute revenue generated if such a tax were approved by voters.
In 2023, a committee was created by the Marion County Board of Supervisors to develop recommendations for the board to consider to address what has become a nearly $1 million shortfall in ambulance services provided throughout the county by various providers. That committee, made up largely of leadership in local EMS and fire services in Pella, Knoxville, and other Marion County townships and cities, has yet to make a formal recommendation — and the Board of Supervisors has indicated they will not put anything on the ballot for a potential tax until a funding formula could be established.
In a press release issued earlier this month, Marion County Public Health has announced the formation of a separate committee, made up of representation from Pella Regional Health Center, Knoxville Hospital and Clinics, the county health department, and city administration from both Pella and Knoxville.
“The new approach will be grounded in data collection, evaluation, and planning directed by elected leaders, those with responsibility for financial management of tax dollars, and those ultimately responsible for emergency care, our hospitals,” the release stated.
On a Facebook post that included a photo of a Marion County Public Health press release (one that was not sent to KNIA/KRLS Radio directly), several comments asked the county public health department why EMS or Fire Department leadership was not included in the new committee — and both Pella Ambulance Chief Greg Higginbotham and Knoxville Fire Chief Cal Wyman confirmed they were not invited in the new committee process; no representation has been included from any smaller communities outside of Pella and Knoxville.
The release, attributed to Marion County Public Health Director Kim Dorn, stated, “This group reviewed various proposals to address the operational and financial gaps currently present in our ambulance service system. The group was unable to arrive at a consensus proposal to present to the board of supervisors. With that process at a standstill, members of the Board of Supervisors, local hospitals and cities have met as a separate group to continue the discussion around the future of ambulance services in Marion County.”
Board of Supervisors Chair Mark Raymie announced at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting that this process was underway, and ultimately defended the separate group and his actions in forming it, claiming the lack of progress from the original EMS board. He also said the fire and ambulance directors of the county could still come together and make their official recommendation, and that this separate board is mainly to focus solely on the impact of the major financial contributors to the current emergency medical services system.
Audio from that portion of the Board of Supervisors meeting: