Letter to Editor

| June 27, 2019 1:00 AM

AMBULANCE: Can put the hurt on your wallet

In a recent opinion piece, Boundary County Ambulance Chief Jeff Lindsey informed residents of the exorbitant costs to maintain the current level of service.

It appears Boundary Ambulance quietly transitioned from a volunteer service to a “business” after the taxing district was established by Commissioners in 2012. (TITLE 31 CHAPTER 39 SECTION 31-3908)

The amount cited in his letter is from taxes collected by the county. It does not include the amount billed and recovered.

A new ambulance facility is also being constructed.

All of this is done with the oversight of the County Board of Commissioners. (TITLE 31 CHAPTER 39 SECTION 31-3903)

The total levy rate an ambulance district can assess, is capped at 0.04 percent of the full value of assessed property in the district/county.

A recent bill was proposed in the Idaho legislature that would raise this cap to 0.06 percent.

Bottom line. ... Big city living costs lotsa money. Hold on to your wallet.

Rosanne Smith

Moyie Springs