By Susan Thompson | Times Vedette
During the 2021 Iowa legislative session, a proposal to allow counties to declare emergency medical services (EMS) an essential service was approved, then signed into law. This law allows Iowa counties to ask citizens to vote on a new tax to support EMS, the same way police and fire protection are funded.
In 2022, the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors declared EMS an essential service. This started the process that led to a November 2024 ballot issue.
The measure would have allowed the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors to implement a new tax of 75 cents per $1,000 of taxable property value to help fund a countywide EMS program. Voters supported the measure with 53.88% saying “yes.” Because the measure required 60% approval, it did not pass.
When the ballot measure failed, it negated the board’s 2022 declaration of EMS as essential. In late 2025, the board again declared EMS as an essential service, and the planning process started again.
Iowa law requires the creation of an advisory council to research, study and make recommendations to the board of supervisors regarding a plan for Emergency Medical Services within the county.
In January 2026, the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors agreed on the basic makeup of a second EMS Advisory Council. It includes nine entities with one person appointed to represent each entity.
The Advisory Council has been formed and currently is discussing existing EMS services and researching steps needed to ensure high-quality emergency medical care is accessible to the entire county.
The council has developed a survey to gather input. This survey of Guthrie County voters will help the group gauge the current level of understanding of EMS service delivery and funding in the county, what voters deem as priorities for county EMS service, and what funding they would support to achieve those priorities.
Members of the EMS Advisory Council and the entities they represent are:
- Gina Arnold (City of Bayard)
- Tammy Bireline (Adair Fire and Rescue)
- Angie Capps (City of Stuart)
- Mary Jane Carothers (Guthrie County Hospital)
- Sheyrl Clark (Union Township)
- Jeremy Cooper (Guthrie County EMA & Bagley Fire)
- Brian Dorsett (City of Panora)
- Erica Finster (City of Guthrie Center)
- Matt Harmann (Guthrie County Sherrif)
Scan the QR Code or use the link: https://forms.office.com/g/psCc1pb3A1 to take the survey now through July 3, 2026. The online survey includes 21 questions and should take 10-15 minutes to complete.