EMS LEVY
EMS LEVY
Tax facts
East Palestine firefighters and emergency medical services personnel are asking voters May 8 to approve a 1/2-percent income tax increase to fund 24-hour, on-station EMS staffing.
An open house: Firefighters and EMS personnel will be at Clark Street Fire Station, 67 E. Clark St. from 1 to 3 p.m. April 29 to answer questions. Paramedics and EMTs will offer blood pressure and electrocardiogram screenings.
About the tax: Connie Robinson, city finance director, says the current 1 percent income tax will generate about $873,000 this year. She expects it to garner about $900,000 in 2002, so increasing the city income tax from 1 percent to 1.5 percent should produce an additional $450,000. An employee earning $8 per hour will pay an additional $1.60 for a 40-hour pay period.
About round-the clock coverage: Firefighters and EMS personnel say full-time coverage is needed because the department annually loses highly trained, quality paramedics to full-time positions in other cities or with private ambulance companies. Full-time EMS also would improve coverage for residents and firefighters during fire runs, and more stand-by coverage, such as during high school football games and community events.
About paramedics: Firefighters and EMS personnel say paramedics are crucial in East Palestine because all three nearby hospitals are a minimum of 20 minutes away. With a paramedic on board, an ambulance is an emergency room on wheels. Paramedics can give many drugs and perform advanced procedures beyond what EMTs can do in critical lifesaving situations. They use a defibrillator to restart a person's heart during cardiac arrest. They perform advanced airway procedures on a patient with breathing difficulties. They administer medications when someone suffers a life-threatening asthma attack or allergic reaction. Sources: The Citizens for a Safe Community; East Palestine firefighters, paramedics and EMTs