Montgomery County signs off on Nokomis-Witt Ambulance tax hike

October 16, 2024 99

HILLSBORO — Communities and rural areas serviced by the Nokomis-Witt Area Ambulance Service (NWAAS) will expect a hefty property tax hike beginning with the tax bills due in 2025 following the latest Montgomery County Board meeting on October 8.

Representatives from NWAAS spoke before the board regarding the need to increase its tax levy significantly, despite the board’s Finance and Budget Committee’s disapproval of such a tax levy hike. The committee had even recommended that NWAAS communicate with the Raymond-Harvel Ambulance Service to see how they can operate with significantly fewer resources.

NWAAS Vice President Dave Schweizer first addressed the board, citing reasons why the service requires more money, which included the COVID pandemic, rising costs due to inflation (despite prices beginning to decrease), and mismanagement of financials and staff.

Schweizer noted that a year ago, NWAAS was ready to shut down for good, had it not been for the community stepping up and donating $85,000 to the service, which helped keep the doors open.

He also referenced problems with the Montgomery County billing office even after the service had moved on to another billing service. There was an issue of double billing for a time, which raised a red flag to the state, Medicaid, and Medicare, all of which halted payments.

NWAAS projects $425,000 in tax revenue for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which will be a 33 percent increase over the current 2024-25 fiscal year. However, the service is asking for $500,000, which would reflect a 57 percent increase to make up for any potential increases in the Estimated Asset Value (EAV).

Using the average property value of $85,000, the full 57 percent hike would add $30 to the tax bill, while the 33 percent hike will only add $18.

Currently, NWAAS is operating 24/7 as a basic level service (BLS). Should a paramedic become available, the service upgrades to an advanced level service.

Schweizer believes the service is a necessity for the good of the community, and they receive good support from citizens and organizations alike within the community.

Acting manager Joletta Hill, who has been with the service for 32 years, then spoke. A few years ago, NWAAS was one of the top services within Region 3, and Hill believes that the service can be a top performer again. While the service operates as a BLS with upgradable capabilities to an ALS, she believes that NWAAS can operate again as an ALS agency.

The board approved the 57 percent hike of $500,000, with Evan Young, Ken Folkerts, and David Loucks casting dissenting votes.

Hillsboro Area Ambulance ($300,000, an increase of 164.104 percent), Farmersville-Waggoner Area Ambulance ($114,200, an increase of 38.247 percent), and Raymond-Harvel Area Ambulance ($88,738, an increase of 4.999 percent) would also receive approval of the proposed levy increases.

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Jake Leonard

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.