Benton County Officials Delay Ambulance Funding Decision

BENTONVILLE -- Benton County officials were deadlocked Tuesday on a plan to pay for rural ambulance service, agreeing instead to continue talking.

The Quorum Court's Public Safety Committee split 3-3 on a motion to send a proposal for a one-eighth percent sales tax for discussion by the Committee of the Whole. Kevin Harrison of District 5, made the motion and said the county needed to proceed with the proposal if it were to be put to a vote at the November general election. Harrison voted for the motion, as did Shirley Sandlin of District 8 and Patrick Carr of District 13. Mike McKenzie of District 1, voted against the motion along with Pat Adams of District 6 and Brent Meyers of District 15.

"The intent is that the tax would only be usable for EMS county-wide," Harrison said.

The motion was amended so the Committee of the Whole would discuss details of how the money raised would be divided among city ambulance services and Northeast Benton County Fire Department. Harrison pointed out to have the question on the general election ballot the county needed to approve an ordinance by July. If the ordinance were to be read at three meetings, which is normal practice, the first reading would have to be at the May meeting, Harrison said.

"If we wait till the next month to read it we won't make that deadline," Harrison said. "We won't have another general election for two more years. We've got to be able to take action."

McKenzie argued against the motion, saying he needed more time to consider it.

"We need to research it a little bit more before we say this is what we recommend," McKenzie said.

The committee spent about two hours discussing ambulance service and funding for 2015 and beyond. The county has agreed to pay seven cities about $942,000 for ambulance service. The cost for providing the service next year has been put at about $1.1 million. The panel recommended continuing the arrangement with the cities in 2015, regardless of the source of money.

Kurt Moore, Committee of the Whole chairman, said he'll also place the issue on the agenda for the next meeting as a discussion item. Moore said that committee will also continue the discussion of other options including a special millage and another plan for a special emergency medical services district and a fee.

He said the committee may also consider establishing an ad hoc residents committee to work on the issue.

Adams asked all of the justices of the peace to visit with city officials, business leaders and constituents in the next few weeks to try to build support for a plan.

Carr, Public Safety Committee chairman, said he thought the group made minimal progress Tuesday to resolving the issue, which the county and cities have been working on for the past four years. A county proposal for an emergency medical services district and an annual $85 fee was defeated by voters in February.

"We decided that in 2015 we will be funding it," Carr said. "We at least had an idea about potential funding sources, I think we bunted. We didn't swing for the fences."

Theresa Pockrus, who helped organize opposition to the county plan that was rejected, said she thought Tuesday's meeting was helpful. Pockrus said although she dislikes sales taxes in general, she might support a proposal for a dedicated county-wide sales tax. Pockrus also suggested a dedicated special millage or a smaller fee on residents of a rural EMS district might succeed.

"Discussion is always progress," she said. "Getting ideas on the table is progress. The fact they are talking about taking it to a vote of the people is progress."

Sandlin said the county has to persuade voters to support a secure funding source for the ambulance service that will provide the service beyond 2015 or residents may face the loss of the service.

"We can't commit to an extra $1 million plus for the next 10 or 15 years," she said "We've either got to have funding or inform the public they're on their own. We've either got to sell it or walk away from it."