Newton County Ambulance District tax question to go to voters

The man in charge of the Newton County Ambulance District is providing some information on a tax initiative that will soon be put before voters.

A measure on the ballot on April 6 would reset the amount to .35 cents per $100 assessed property value – up from just under .19 cents per $100 assessed property value where it was placed by law due to the Hancock Amendment.

Newton County Ambulance District Chief Rusty Tinny says the increase would help the district address a critical shortage of paramedics and EMTs in the area.

He says it would also help address the issue of pay for those first responders which is among the lowest in the region. He says that would keep Newton County paramedics and EMTs from seeking employment in areas with better pay.

Tinny says in the past 30 years call volume in the district has increased by a whopping 275 percent.