Proposed Levy Increase
In addition to the new EMS district, an EMS levy rate increase from .00012 ($12 per $100,000 of taxable value) to .0004 ($40 per $100,000 of taxable value) to fund EMS services throughout Valley County will be on the ballot for consideration.
This measure must pass by a two-thirds supermajority.
What does this rate increase mean for your property taxes?
The current EMS district levies .00012 or $12 per one hundred thousand of taxable value. This provides the current EMS district with $1.2 million annually.
The proposed levy rate would increase from twelve hundredths percent (.00012) to four hundredths percent (.0004) beginning in fiscal year 2024.
This would increase annual property tax from $12 per one hundred thousand of taxable value to $40 per one hundred thousand of taxable value.
The annual budget of the new Valley Countywide EMS District would increase from $1.2 million to $4.1 million in the first fiscal year (2024).
This budget would allow for four fully staffed ALS (advanced life support) ambulances in Valley County.
What is an "ALS" ambulance?
ALS stands for advanced life support. When we talk about “ALS,” we mean a Paramedic – someone capable of performing life-saving protocols and skills that extend beyond BLS, or basic life support. BLS (typically associated with the idea of an EMT).
ALS is used to provide urgent treatment for time sensitive emergencies such as heart attack, stroke, trauma, and sepsis. All of which are life threatening and a race against the clock. ALS level care helps to ensure patients receive timely intervention and access to a higher level of care. ALS serves as the bridge for patients from pre-hospital care to this higher level of care and can quite literally mean the difference between life and death for many patients.
Get detailed budget information about how this tax revenue would be utilized to provide EMS services in Valley County.
For Comparison:
- Monthly Trash Service Cost: $50.24
- Monthly Netflix Subscription: $15.49
- Average Monthly Expenditure on Coffee: $37 (men) – $44 (women) (source)
A Levy-Based Tax System
Under this system, the amount of property tax levied is based on the budgeted amount to provide services, not assessed value. Meaning that each district sets an annual budget, and the actual levy rate is determined by the budget NOT the assessed value in the county.
Statute also prohibits taxing authorities (in this case the EMS district) from increasing annual budgets beyond 3% annually.
Get an in-depth look at how our county levy system works and how your assessed value and property tax work within this levy-based system on the Valley County GIS tool
Get an in-depth look at how our county levy system works and how your assessed value and property tax work within this levy-based system on the Valley County GIS tool
