Health & LivingNewsPolitics & Government

AMR Contract Deadline Looming for Charles City, Floyd County

The deadline for Floyd County and the City of Charles City to reach a new contract with its current, private, ambulance service provider is fast approaching. 

With the current agreement set to expire June 30th, City Administrator Steve Diers says the plan is to sign a new contract with AMR Ambulance, at least until a new locally-operated ambulance is ready.

A joint City-County Ambulance Commission has taken a closer look at starting a county-run ambulance, which Chickasaw County did at the beginning of this year, after learning the subsidy they pay to AMR is set to more than double, from $200,000 in the current fiscal year to $415,000 for the new fiscal year starting July 1st. AMR has also indicated that subsidy could rise by at least 5% a year after that.

To offset those costs as well as bankroll a possible new county ambulance, the Floyd County Board of Supervisors has begun the lengthy process to put an emergency medical services (EMS) tax levy before voters. 

County Supervisors have issued their notice of intention to declare EMS an essential, starting with the first reading of a resolution to that effect during their Board meeting on July 10th. 

Last November, a tax levy to generate up to $556,000 a year for 10 years, assessed through property taxes, an income tax surcharge, or a combination of both, was defeated, failing to get the 60% supermajority vote to pass.

Mark Pitz

News Director/Weekdays 10am to 2pm on 95.9 KCHA
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