Howard County Ambulance

03/25/2026

📣 Sales Tax Proposal Q&A Wednesday 📊

Important to know before April 7th.

Q: What are the two most important things to know before April 7th regarding the tax proposal?

A: Before April 7th all Howard County residents should know:

1. The current funding structure cannot support two full-time crews on duty 24/7. With the current call volume and travel time across the county, response times could increase. Being understaffed and recruitment remain a critical issue and the health and wellbeing of our staff is a concern due to high stress and too many hours.

2. Current funding by tax dollars is only supported by property owners in the county with a property tax. New tax funding, like what is being proposed, has become increasinging popular among many states and counties. Sharing the tax obligation between a reduced property tax and an added 1% sales tax increases the funding and shares the obligation among more. Allowing college students, visitors and renters to contribute tax dollars for the service. When we travel to other counties in the state, we will be contributing to their sales tax funding that supports their ambulance district.

📌 Key Fact: The decision on April 7 belongs to Howard County voters.

🗳️ Election Day is Tuesday, April 7.
Residents are encouraged to be informed, ask questions, and participate in the election.

This post, and the entire Q&A series, are provided for educational purposes only. As a public agency, the Howard County Ambulance District does not advocate for or against any ballot measure.

03/24/2026

03/24/2026

🚑 Thank You, Howard County

We had a great turnout tonight with thoughtful questions, meaningful conversations, and strong community support. We truly appreciate everyone who came out.

If you weren’t able to attend one of our open house sessions this month, we still want to hear from you.
👉 Send us your questions — we’re committed to providing clear, factual information leading up to April 7th.

Current funding will not support two crews on 24/7 and that’s what is needed in Howard County. Why?

➡️ 1. Call Volume & Coverage —
On average, we respond to 3–4 calls per day, and each call takes about 2.5 hours from dispatch to hospital and back.

That means:
• While one crew is on a call,
• A second crew is needed ready at the base

This is what helps maintain reasonable response times across the county — especially in a rural area where distance matters.

➡️ 2. How Ambulance Services Are Funded — Ambulance services are funded through insurance reimbursements and tax dollars.
• Medicare/Medicaid only pays a portion (a small portion) of the actual cost
• Private insurance also pays a portion — often with long delays in repayment
• Current property tax funding alone is not enough to cover the costs of two crews

Across Missouri, many communities have already faced this reality:
• 70+ counties are using sales tax to support ambulance services
• 20 counties have proposals like ours on the April ballot
• More are expected later this year on the fall ballot

💬 Have a question? Drop it below or message us.

Don’t forget to vote on April 7th.

03/23/2026

"I attended and learned a lot about how our Howard County Ambulance is operated and why the tax proposal is being brought forward. I urge you to be at the next tour on Monday, March 23rd at 6:00 p.m. where your questions will be answered." - Howard County resident, Judy Strodtman
Join us Monday night for your last chance to tour the facility and ask questions about the April tax proposal. Hear the commonly asked questions and answers being discussed. See you there!

03/23/2026

Our Howard County Ambulance District EMTs and Paramedics recently decided to hold an impromptu, self-driven training session to keep their skills sharp. Here, they are shown honing advanced skills like airway management and cardiac monitoring on a training manikin. By taking the initiative to proactively train amongst themselves, they ensure they are always prepared to deliver the best possible care to our neighbors. This is what true dedication looks like.

03/23/2026

Current funding cannot support two crews on duty at all times. Based on our call volume and response time needed for the size of our county, this is critical.

If you have questions on why there is a sales tax proposal on the April 7th ballot, please come and learn from a tour and community session and ask your questions. Please be informed by April 7th.

See you at our open house and Q&A today, March 23rd at 6:00 PM.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DnKa29RwE/?mibextid=wwXIfr

03/20/2026

🚑 Training for What Matters Most

A week ago today, Howard County Ambulance District was proud to take part in a large-scale mock pole-top rescue training coordinated by Howard Electric Cooperative — alongside local fire, EMS, 911, Road & Bridge, the City of Fayette, MU-1 Air Evac, and crews from across Missouri.

These are the types of situations we train for — and hope we never have to face.

By working together in real-life scenarios, we strengthen communication, improve response times, and ensure that when an emergency happens, our community is ready.

Following the exercise, crews participated in additional safety training including:
🚁 Helicopter landing zone preparation
⚡ Electrical hazard and downed power line safety
🔌 Live line safety demonstrations

This kind of hands-on, multi-agency training is critical in rural communities, where teamwork and preparation can make all the difference.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to train alongside such dedicated partners — all with one shared goal: keeping Howard County safe.

👇 Drop a comment to thank these crews for their commitment to our community!

03/20/2026

03/20/2026

🚑 Does Howard County Have the Highest Sales Tax?

No — not even close.

✔️ 57 counties in Missouri are higher
✔️ 12 are the same
✔️ 45 are lower

Howard County sits right in the middle.
If the proposed 1% sales tax passes on April 7th, we will move higher — but still not at the top in Missouri. Many counties would still have similar or higher rates.

Across Missouri, many communities are already using this approach as a more sustainable way to fund emergency services or they are also proposing this change on the April 7th ballot.

This type of structure aligns with how EMS is commonly funded — helping ensure reliable service for our community.