Warren County Ambulance District officials said they have received several inquiries regarding upcoming April election tax increase proposals and a bond issue — none of which benefit its district.Unfortunately, many voters in Warren County do not realize that first responder agencies are completely different tax entities, said Ralph Hellebusch, chief executive officer of the Warren County Ambulance District.“Unlike many larger municipalities, Warren County first responder agencies were formed as separate entities many years ago by the voters of Warren County,” he said. “Voters are asking questions and the confusion is in two areas“One misunderstanding is from January 2017 when officials with Wright City and Warrenton Fire Protection Districts mutually announced their voluntary actions to begin responding to EMS calls with Warren County Ambulance District to enhance the emergency medical services within Warren County,” he said.Hellebusch said that decision was made on behalf of and by both of those agencies and unsolicited by officials of the Warren County Ambulance District.Historically, response protocol for EMS aid from Wright City, Warrenton or any surrounding fire agency would be at the request of Warren County Ambulance District personnel on the scene, he said.Warren County Ambulance District’s current tax levy rate is $.4991 per $100 of assessed valuation, after voters approved a $0.15 per $100 of assessed valuation tax increase in April of 2014.Hellebusch said revenue received is currently sufficient to cover the budget for the ambulance district to respond to the nearly 4,400 emergency services calls annually and to maintain its workforce of nearly 50 full-time and part-time employees to provide four ambulances crews 24/7, year-round.In January 2018, the Wright City Fire Protection District announced two tax proposals for the upcoming April election.Currently, Wright City Fire Protection District operates at a property tax rate of $.4127 per $100 of assessed valuation.Wright City Fire Protection District is asking the voters within the district’s boundaries to approve a property tax increase of $.34 per $100 of assessed valuation to bring its operating tax levy rate up to about $.75 per $100 of assessed valuation.In addition to the operating tax increase proposal, Wright City Fire District also is asking voters to approve a $7 million bond issue.Warren County Ambulance District officials said passage or failure of this proposed tax increase on the April 2018 ballot will have absolutely no effect on EMS services.“Secondly, in the Feb. 15 edition of The Record, one of the headlines stated ‘Ambulance District Seeks Funds for New Vehicles’ and some voters mistook this as the Warren County Ambulance District,” Hellebusch said.This tax increase proposal is for the Marthasville Community Ambulance District which is seeking a $.10 per $100 of assessed valuation proposal to bring its rate to $.39 per $100 of assessed valuation for the voters within the Marthasville Community Ambulance District, which covers some residents living within Warren County.Additionally, the Warren County Ambulance District confirmed that the “ambulance district” tax increase proposal is solely for county residents within the Marthasville Community Ambulance District boundaries with that agency receiving the respective revenue increase for their specific district.Within Warren County, there are two EMS (Emergency Medical Services) agencies — Warren County Ambulance District and Marthasville Community Ambulance District.A large majority of the county, approximately 250 square miles, is covered by Warren County Ambulance District and the southern portion of the county is covered by Marthasville Community Ambulance District for all emergency medical service calls.Law enforcement within the county is serviced by Warren County Sheriff’s Department, Wright City Police Department, Truesdale Police Department and Warrenton Police Department.Fire and rescue for the county is covered by Wright City, Warrenton, Hawk Point, Jonesburg, Marthasville, New Melle and New Florence Fire Protection districts within their prospective boundaries within Warren County.Hellebusch said public agency budgets don’t differ much from personal budgets, there’s not much excess.“We always encourage voters to ask questions and become educated prior to Election Day for any and all issues on the ballot,” he said.Warren County Ambulance District