Oakwood EMS pushes for tax-funded district to prevent service cuts

OAKWOOD, Ill. (WAND) - For emergency responders, every second counts. In Vermillion County, leaders are pushing for a major change to keep ambulance services reliable and efficient. Instead of the Oakwood Emergency Rescue Service being village-owned, they want to transition to a taxpayer-funded district.

Right now, the service is funded only by insurance payments from patients who use its services. Running out of funding could mean increased response times for emergencies.

"If we're not here, you're relying upon an ambulance to come out of either Danville or Champaign, and that makes a difference ... our response of 15 minutes as opposed to 45 minutes to an hour, which can literally be the difference of life and death in a medical situation," said Zach Weddle, the director of Oakwood Emergency Rescue.

For decades, Oakwood EMS has responded to emergencies across the county. Now, EMS officials are considering new ways to keep the service running.

"Since 1978, we [have been] primarily a volunteer service. Within the last six years, we've migrated towards a more hybridized system of some staffed, some volunteer, and we've noticed a massive drop off in volunteer hours," Weddle said.

Weddle said a taxpayer-funded service is the solution.

"It's going to provide a lot better coverage for the area. It'll be a 24 /7 base rather than a just when we can staff base," Weddle said.

The tax would be levied within the district, which would be considered a special service district.

"Right now, the introductory rate, as standard for something like this, would be $0.15 per $100 assessed value. And then for the agricultural standpoint, you're looking anywhere between $0.90 to a $1.10 an acre," Weddle said.

Weddle said if this tax doesn't pass, the EMS district may not be able to retain emergency services.

"Unfortunately, it does lead to, possibly, shrinkage of our coverage area, reduction in staff, reduction in wages, generally much harder to retain employees," Weddle said.

This new proposal will be on the November ballot. The village will have a public meeting at 6 p.m. on April 9 inside the Oakwood Village Hall board room.