SEBASTIAN COUNTY (KFSM) — Emergency medical services will receive a significant boost in funding after voters approved a fee increase on Tuesday (August 9).
Voters approved the EMS ordinance 862 (55.1 percent) – 702 (44.9 percent).
The fee for those in south Sebastian County will increase $25 per year for the next two years. Those using the existing Emergency Medical Service fee pay $18 per year. If approved, they would pay $43 in 2017 and $68 in 2018 on their personal property tax statements.
The $18 rate was established in 1986, when Sebastian EMS only had one crew, one unit and an $88,000 budget.
Thirty years later, two crews work 24 hours, 7 days a week, two units and operate on a $1.7 million budget.
