Iron County Ambulance District
Sales Tax 5-year totals
2021 851,056
2022 630,466
2023 485,967
2024 465,686
2025 463,057
The original vote in Jefferson City occurred in 2021, and the district began experiencing the financial impact of that decision in 2022. A subsequent vote in 2023 expanded the tax cuts available to those same industries, further reducing the district’s revenue.
The Annapolis base remains the slowest of our three bases; however, it is also the closest base within reasonable response distance to the House 1 coverage area. When evaluating potential adjustments to improve monthly and annual expenses, we reviewed the previous six months (180 days) of call data to identify peak activity periods. The findings for Annapolis were as follows:
• Over a six‑month / 180‑day period, between the hours of 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM, the base was dispatched 81 times.
• 24 of those calls did not result in patient transport.
• 9 were mutual‑aid responses for Reynolds County.
The cost to staff two EMTs at the Annapolis base for a 24‑hour period averages $968.38. This amount includes wages, payroll taxes, and the district’s LAGERS retirement contributions. It does not include ambulance operating costs, building expenses, or other overhead.
While the district generates substantial revenue—primarily from calls originating in the House 1 coverage area, there are significant fixed expenses that must be met each month. Major recurring costs include:
• $20,000 per month for employee health insurance
• $5,000 per month for workers’ compensation
• $4,500 per month for fuel
• $3,500 per month for the district’s LAGERS retirement portion
• $4,000 per month for medical supplies
• $72,000 annually for property insurance
These represent only a portion of the district’s financial obligations but illustrate the scale of the expenses that must be supported.
Although the Viburnum base ends the year with more total calls than Annapolis, its call volume is still insufficient to sustain the base independently. Reductions have already been made to the backup crew in Viburnum due to budget limitations and lower call volume.
If the Viburnum base were located closer to the House 1 coverage area, additional reductions there might have been feasible. However, because it is approximately a 40‑minute drive, it is not operationally reasonable to cover that area from House 1 without compromising response times. For this reason, the necessary staffing adjustments were made in Annapolis rather than at the other bases.
The district is actively pursuing additional grant opportunities. A meeting was held last week with one of our equipment vendors, who is currently preparing pricing information for several upcoming grant applications.
Summary
The document presents a detailed financial and operational overview of the Iron County Ambulance District, focusing on sales tax revenue trends, base call volumes, staffing costs, fixed expenses, and ongoing efforts to secure grants.
Sales Tax Revenue Trends
The district’s sales tax revenue over five years shows a declining trend:
| Year | Sales Tax Revenue |
| 2021 | $851,056 |
| 2022 | $630,466 |
| 2023 | $485,967 |
| 2024 | $465,686 |
| 2025 | $463,057 |
This decline began after the original vote in Jefferson City in 2021, with financial impacts felt starting in 2022. A subsequent vote in 2023 further expanded tax cuts for certain industries, resulting in additional revenue reductions for the district.
Annapolis Base Operational Analysis
The Annapolis base is identified as the slowest among the district’s three bases but is strategically important due to its proximity to the House 1 coverage area. An analysis of call data over a recent six-month period (180 days) during night hours (7:00 PM to 7:00 AM) revealed:
- 81 dispatches occurred.
- 24 calls did not result in patient transport.
- 9 were mutual aid calls for Reynolds County.
Staffing two EMTs at this base for a 24-hour period costs approximately $968.38, covering wages, payroll taxes, and retirement contributions, excluding ambulance operation, building, and overhead costs.
Fixed Monthly and Annual Expenses
Despite substantial revenue generated primarily from calls in the House 1 area, the district faces significant fixed costs that must be met monthly and annually. Key recurring expenses include:
- $20,000 per month for employee health insurance
- $5,000 per month for compensation
- $4,500 per month for fuel
- $3,500 per month for LAGERS retirement contributions
- $4,000 per month for medical supplies
- $72,000 annually for property insurance
These figures represent only part of the district’s financial obligations, highlighting the scale of ongoing expenses.
Viburnum Base and Staffing Considerations
The Viburnum base, although having more total calls than Annapolis by year-end, still lacks sufficient call volume to be financially self-sustaining. Budget constraints have already led to reductions in backup crew staffing there. Due to the 40-minute distance from the House 1 coverage area, it is operationally impractical to cover that area from House 1 without affecting response times. Consequently, staffing adjustments have been prioritized at the Annapolis base instead of Viburnum or other bases.
Grant Pursuit Efforts
The district is actively seeking additional grant funding opportunities. A recent meeting with an equipment vendor is underway to prepare pricing information for several upcoming grant applications, indicating proactive financial planning to supplement revenue.