Vote on Floyd County EMS Tax Levy Could Come September 2024

A tax levy to help fund emergency medical services (EMS) in Floyd County could go before voters again next fall.

An EMS tax levy would generate funds for all public agencies that provide emergency services in the county as well as help the County and City of Charles City possibly establish and operate its own public ambulance service.

EMS Advisory Council chair Patrick Lumley said the timing wasn’t right to put the levy before voters November 7th, since a $28.5 million bond referendum for Charles City High School was already on the ballot. He said the Council also didn’t have time to properly educate voters on the measure.

During their Council meeting last week, the consensus was to put the EMS tax levy back up for vote in a special election, targeting September 10, 2024.

Floyd County Supervisor Jim Jorgensen is a non-voting member of the EMS Council. He told his fellow Supervisors during their Board meeting Monday (11.27) that more information is needed to determine the parameters of the levy.

Jorgensen added that the EMS Advisory Council also looks to be more aggressive in promoting the need for the tax levy to voters, which could include open houses and the use of social media. 

The Council has also been studying language of the ballot measure for EMS tax levies that were successful in passing in other counties by the required 60% majority YES vote.

A Floyd County EMS tax levy to raise over $550,000 a year for 10 years failed last November.