Allen County commissioners, albeit on a split vote, gave Iola a little breathing room Tuesday as the city deals with a projected $378,000 shortfall in ambulance service funding. COMMISSIONERS approved their 2015 budget, which authorizes expenditures of a touch over $13 million. That’s an increase of about $900,000 compared to this year, when the county had authority to spend $12.1 million. DEEDEE MARTIN, Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health, told commissioners for the second year the local group had been denied local Women Infant and Children (WIC) presence. Services again will be provided through the Crawford County office.
On a motion made two weeks ago by Commissioner Tom Williams and then tabled, he and Commissioner Dick Works approved a grant of as much as $189,000 — half of the anticipated funding discrepancy — for Iola. That’s what the city had sought.
The county immediately will send a check for $136,000 across Jackson Avenue to City Hall, and will hold in abeyance $53,000, run revenue from the waning weeks of 2013, that will be used to meet half of the shortfall when accounting for 2014 is completed. If the shortfall abates, the county’s additional revenue sharing would change to whatever half of it is.
The decision was put off until Jim Talkington, commission chairman, returned from a vacation.
He proposed the funding motion be amended to make $189,000 in county funding available, but be held in county coffers until the end of the year, to see “if city finances improve.”
His motion died for lack of a second.
The decision came after Williams, for the second time, called for a vote on the original motion. Talkington cast the negative vote. He gave “too many questions” as his reason.
Included is the caveat that if Iola returns the service to county control before the five-year contract between the two entities expires, the money would have to be repaid.
City Administrator Carl Slaugh reiterated that he found the repayment provision unnecessary and perhaps a stumbling block for council support of continuing the service.
Works responded it was necessary so the county could recoup the funding if it were faced with having to resume ambulance service, which per the contract would be for all of the county and not just outside Iola as was the case before county and city agreed for Iola to take countywide reins.
Slaugh pointed out Iola operating the service would save county taxpayers about $300,000 a year and allowed that some council members were not keen on keeping the service without unfettered county support.
“We have some vocal council members and some who are quiet,” he said, adding that he would “push (the council) to approve” some forms of city funding to deal with the remaining shortfall.
A 6-mill property tax levy would raise about $180,000, he said. Alternative sources of revenue the city has are to tap into reserve funds or place a surcharge onto utility accounts.
“I prefer to keep the ambulance service, but there are funding challenges,” including beyond this year, Slaugh said. “I also think there are lots of other areas where we could cooperate. The landfill is a big advantage.”
Williams said he thought the service, under city control, had a bright future.
“They will make it work,” he said. “I think they’ll find efficiencies and (the financial picture) will get better.”
Iola council members next meet Monday evening at 6 o’clock in the New Community Building in Riverside Park.
Terry Call, who bills for ambulance runs, told commissioners collections through the end of July were $365,774.43, with $169,932.11 due. With collections from runs in late 2013, the total is $422,449.16, which is on course to reach the guaranteed $750,000 by year’s end.
The general fund, which meets all courthouse and law enforcement demands, was put at just under $5.4 million, an increase of a little less than $200,000.
Overall property tax levy for 2015 will be 65.955 mills, a decrease of 5.2 mills. More than half of that decrease is in the ambulance fund, which will require a levy of 0.985 mills, 2.741 less than this year, to support expenditures of $276,515. That funding is in place to buy an ambulance and as a reserve.
This year’s projected expenditures were $326,615, put in place before the county and Iola agreed to consolidate ambulance service under the city’s thumb.
County assessed valuation for 2015 is $99.4 million, up from this year’s $97 million. That means a levy of 1 mill will raise $99,000. To put the levy in perspective a $100,000 house is assessed at $11,500, meaning 1 mill costs the owner $11.50 in taxes.
Martin said lack of a building in Woodson County was at least partially responsible for WIC services not being available locally every day of the week. They are brought here once a month from Crawford County.
Martin also said efforts were being made to secure a building in Woodson County.
WIC provides nutrition services.
Iola EMS gets a hand up from commissioners
