Edgar Co. Ambulance Tax Increase Hearing –

Edgar Co., Ill. (ECWd) –

On November 22, 2023, at 8:45 a.m. at the Edgar County Courthouse, the Edgar County Board will hold a Hearing for all interested individuals to comment on the proposed tax increase for the Special Service Area No. 1 Ambulance Service.

The proposed tax increase is $375,000, which is more than 105 percent of last year’s tax, requiring a hearing.

We suggest all property taxpayers attend this meeting and voice their opinions.

According to county board members, this increase is apparently because the current provider’s contract, Horizon Health, will soon expire and they have indicated any future bids for the contract will include payment by the county based on the tax levy.

Several years ago, Horizon Health won the SSA Ambulance Service bid by agreeing to service the contract for zero public funds paid by the county.

That will apparently not be the case moving forward with whoever wins the new contract.

There is another option available to the county: Referendum to dissolve the Special Service Area since a county is not required to provide this service and the hospital is already established and will most likely continue its ambulance service with or without a contract, or another private ambulance service might consider moving to Paris and establishing a business here since there would be no contract to compete with.