NCCAD Seeking $4 Million Bond Issue
The North Crawford County Ambulance District is seeking a $4 million bond issue on the April 2 ballot.
Proposition Lifesaver would add around $3.99 per month if a resident’s home value is $180,000 increase.
NCCAD’s property tax rate is currently $0.0989 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Proposition Lifesaver would add an additional debt service levy.
With the $4 million, NCCAD would purchase additional ambulances, upgrade equipment, update stations, pay off debts and add a training center at Station 1.
NCCAD believes the money would be enough to meet the long-term capital needs over the next decade.
Two members of NCCAD addressed the Bourbon City Council on Feb. 21.
Mike Delashmit, vice president of the board of directors, and LeighAnne DeParle, office manager, told the council they wanted to be proactive in explaining why voters should support the bond issue.
DeParle said a bond issue is the best way for the district to obtain the needed funding. Instead of asking to permanently raise
“Twenty years ago, we could purchase a full ambulance for $100,000,” DeParle said, adding the cost has skyrocketed to around $300,000. NCCAD plans to use the bond issue to remount some of the ambulances, which DeParle said would save “hundreds of thousands of dollars” over the long term.
Addressing the ambulance shed on Old Springfield Road in Bourbon is among the projects, DeParle said.
“The garage is small and the ambulances are getting bigger and bigger,” she said. “We have really outgrown it.”
Delashmit said NCCAD plans on working with the Bourbon Fire Protection District to possibly construct a new facility on their property.
Delashmit and DeParle also said the district will ensure that EMTs receive more training.
“We don’t want them to just be proficient, but expert,” Delashmit said.
Funds that come from Proposition Lifesaver can only be used for capital improvement items and never for salaries or benefits.
DeParle said NCCAD plans on holding town halls and speaking more with the community to push hard for support on April 2.
“We don’t want people to show up at the ballot and not know about this,” she said.
For more information, contact PropositionLifesaver@nccad-ems.org or call their office at 573-885-3793.