Prop. Paramedics

What Is Prop. Paramedic?

On the ballot in the November 3 General Election, St. Charles County Ambulance District [SCCAD] is placing a question in front of voters. Proposition Paramedics is a .00375 (three-eighths of one percent) sales tax proposal that would lower real estate and personal property taxes and generate more money for EMS operations.

If the proposition passes, the cost to a consumer for a $5 purchase of applicable goods is less than two cents. As required by law, a portion of the revenue received from this sales tax would be used to reduce your property tax – it is projected that these taxes paid to SCCAD would reduce by about 40%. Additionally, St. Charles County residents would no longer receive bills for using our service.

Why Is SCCAD Seeking Additional Funding?

  • In an emergency, our paramedics currently reach 70% of our county in seven minutes or less. As the population of the county grows and the areas of concentrated homes spread to previously undeveloped portions of our community, maintaining this response standard can only be achieved through the expansion of infrastructure and staffing.

  • Inflationary factors affecting the cost of delivering emergency care have put SCCAD in a budgetary shortfall. Therefore, we have reduced staffing by 10 paramedics and have a plan to reduce staffing by eight more paramedics in the next year (18 total).

  • We are planning ahead for known demographic changes. Data tells us that our population is growing. A large factor in this growth is that seniors are choosing to move to St. Charles County from other areas. This translates to continued increase in emergency call volume for years to come.

What If The Measure Does Not Pass?

If Prop. Paramedics does not pass, SCCAD anticipates staffing reductions and corresponding impacts on response capacity and service levels.

  • We will reduce our staffing model by 18 paramedics. The expected eventual effect of Prop. Paramedics failing in November is longer 911 response times with less ambulances responding to a growing number of emergencies.

  • SCCAD will have less resources to meet the growing and evolving emergency response needs of our community over time.

If Prop. Paramedics Passes

  • Residents of St. Charles County would no longer receive bills for the portion of our service fees uncovered by their insurance.

  • Based on projections, your real estate and personal property taxes paid to SCCAD would be reduced by about 40%.

  • Of our emergency calls for service, 15% come from non-residents. A sales tax allows visitors to our county to help pay for the cost of our service.

  • SCCAD will improve paramedic staffing levels to plan for the continued growth of our county.

Public Engagement Sessions

SCCAD will host four public information and engagement sessions to give residents a chance to learn more about Prop. Paramedics and ask questions about the ballot measure. Sessions will be hosted on the following days & locations:

  • September 21 at 6:30 p.m.; SCCAD Headquarters (2000 Salt River Rd., St. Peters)

  • October 12 at 6:30 p.m.; Cuivre River Electric Cooperative (8757 Hwy N., Lake St. Louis)

  • October 17 at 6:30 p.m.; Kathryn Linneman Library (2323 Elm St., St. Charles)

  • November 2 at 6:30 p.m.; SCCAD Headquarters (2000 Salt River Rd., St. Peters)