On November 4th, the option to make Emergency Medical Services (EMS) an essential service will be on the ballot for Washington County voters. 

It will take 60% of voters to approve the measure. If approved, Washington County would join 21 other counties in Iowa that have made EMS an essential service. Currently, EMS is not a required public service within the State of Iowa Code, and to become such it has to be voted upon by each county. 

The option on the ballot is to fund EMS up to 75 cents per $1,000 of taxable property valuations. The first year is set to be at 50 cents per $1,000. The funds would be used for the continued operation of the County EMS service. 

If approved, the tax would go into place in 2026. 

The amount would be evaluated yearly with recommendations by the Washington County EMS Advisory Council, made up of 13 members from various public safety agencies including Washington County Hospital and Clinics, Washington County Board of Supervisors, community members, as well as city representatives from across the county.