Owensville Area Ambulance District is asking our community to support an additional half-cent sales tax/use tax to help us do what we do best: take care of you and your family in your time of need. Spreading the cost to everyone that shops in Owensville is a more equitable way for everyone to share the cost not just the homeowners of the district. If the ballot issue passes, the property owners will get a break with the elimination of their property tax (ambulance district), and the district will be able to continue providing excellent care for our residents and visitors.
Why should I vote for Proposition Owensville Ambulance?
Some people never think about their local ambulance district until a loved one needs an ambulance. In those terrifying moments of an emergency, there is nothing more important than the ambulance with Paramedics/EMTs arriving quickly and providing professional, compassionate care. Providing emergency medical care for our community is what we do, and we need your help to continue our mission.
You will eliminate your ambulance district property tax bill.
Visitors to our community will share in the cost of ambulance services they may use. (Fair Share Tax)
You will enable us to maintain our high-quality care and embrace new needs for our community.
How is the additional funding going to be used?
The additional funding will just allow us to keep up with the rising cost of labor (minimum wage increase), building and ambulance maintenance, insurance, medical supplies, and equipment for the next 20 years. There are a few areas that we would like to improve on going forward.
Keep Paramedics on Staff
The need for paramedics in rural settings is vitally important, given the types of patients we see every day. Paramedics can make the true difference between life and death during a 45- 60-minute drive to the hospital for someone having a heart attack, breathing problems, or a diabetic emergency.
More Availability of Crews
Reduced dependence on outside districts by providing an additional crew during our busiest periods. We want you to see our familiar faces whenever possible when you call 911. We know you best, and we want to be there when you need us the most.
A Little Extra Help
We would like to start a Community Paramedic Program to provide additional home medical services that we do not currently offer. Extra services may include home visits to assist with medication, help schedule an appointment, pick up groceries, or provide transportation to a local doctor’s appointment. There is a significant need in our community, and we want to be part of fulfilling it.
A Little Background
When was the last time Owensville Area Ambulance District asked for additional funding?
We asked our district’s citizens for additional funding almost 20 years ago (2007).
We requested that they approve a half-cent sales tax, which, in turn, reduced property taxes by half of the amount collected in sales tax. It was approved, and it has helped the district tremendously, bringing us to where we are now.
What is the difference between use tax and sales tax?
They are virtually the same. The sales tax is what you pay when you go to our local Wal-Mart and buy a set of bed sheets for your bed. Use tax is when you order the bed sheets online (Amazon).
The County and Gasconade Central 911 have collected use tax on online sales for several years, but this has not been an available funding source for ambulance districts until last year, when it was passed by the Missouri legislature.
What is the wording on the ballot, and what does it mean?
Proposition Owensville Ambulance
Shall the Owensville Area Ambulance District be authorized to increase the existing sales tax by an additional one- half percent, bringing the total sales tax to one percent, for the purpose of providing revenues for the operation of the Owensville Area Ambulance District, and be further authorized to impose a use tax in an amount equal to such sales tax, provided that if the sales tax is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be reduced or raised by the same action?
The ballot language says that we are asking for an additional one-half cent of sales tax as well as the same amount of use tax… total of one percent. As with any funding proposition, the voters can authorize this tax, and they can take it away, as the remainder of the questions state. (directly from Missouri revised statutes)