News : Benton Co. EMS Assoc.on Ballot - receives Financial aid from ARPA through Vinton

Updated: This is on the Supervisor's Agenda for Tuesday, October 3, 2023 to be revised to change the date to June 30, 2025.

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Second Update:

The Benton County EMS Association has requested the following levy to be placed on the ballot, this coming November. The Benton County Ambulance service is one of over a dozen members of the Benton County EMS Association. The additional tax levy to be placed on the ballot this November would go into effect for the next 15 years. The measure is below.

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Benton County EMS Public Measure

Shall the Benton County Board of Supervisors, upon recommendation by the Benton County EMS Advisory Council, for the purpose of funding Emergency Medical Services in Benton County including, but not limited to, ambulance service, personnel, and equipment be authorized, for a period of fifteen (15) years, to levy and impose an ad valorem tax not exceeding Sixty-Eight Cents ($.68) per One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) of assessed valuation on all taxable property within Benton County commencing with the levy of property taxes for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024?

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At this week's Vinton City Council meeting, the council promised $75,000 to the Benton County Ambulance service. In the past few years, the service has been running in the red to the tune of around a quarter of a million dollars.

The service had come before the council to ask for help previously and the council had taken the request into consideration. At prior meetings, the council had recommended that the ambulance take the financial advice of Virginia Gay Hospital but the service felt like they were already taking the same steps that had been recommended.

Under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the city received ARPA funding in the amount of $378,147.55. The rules for the use of this money are restricted. Under one of those restrictions, the city is able to use the money through the following segments of the grant. The monies must be used to "respond to the far reaching public health and negative economic impacts of the pandemic."

The declaration from the city goes on to say,

"Whereas "ARPA" rules cities payroll and covered benefits for public safety, public health, health care, human services and similar employees of a recipient government, for the portion of the employees time spent responding to COVID-19; and

Whereas the City of VInton has received $378,147.55 from the United States Treasury in 2021 with an additional $378,147.55 arriving in 2022.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Vinton, Iowa:

1. Beginning on July 1, 2023, the North Benton Ambulance will receive $15,000 per month for a period of three months

2. The North Benton Ambulance in the fourth month will receive $30,000 as the fourth and final payment.

3. The assistance will be funded entirely from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

4. Virginia Gay Hospital will provide financial management assistance to North Benton Ambulanace for a period of six months.

5. During this time North Benton Ambulance will restructure to become financially solvent."