The Meramec Ambulance District will ask voters on April 8 to decide on a $13 million bond issue that Chief Taz Meyer says will help the district construct new stations, support renovations and repairs to existing stations and upgrade outdated equipment.
The bond issue, called Proposition A, will require a four-seventh majority to pass, and if approved, it would increase district resident’s property tax by 15 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
The official ballot language reads: “Shall the Meramec Ambulance District borrow money in the amount of thirteen million dollars for the purpose of decreasing response times to 911 emergency calls and carrying out the mission of the Ambulance District by constructing, improving, equipping and furnishing ambulance stations and facilities in response to increased demand in call volume; and purchasing lifesaving medical equipment, ambulances and other emergency response vehicles, and auxiliary equipment, and issue bonds for the payment thereof?”
The district’s current tax levy is 35.09 cents per $100 assessed valuation, and if the ballot measure is approved, it would increase to 50.09 cents per $100 assessed valuation.
The increase would cost the owner of a house valued at $150,000 by the Assessor’s Office approximately $42.75 more a year. The owner of a home valued at $150,000 currently pays approximately $100.01 a year, and the owner would pay $142.76 a year if the bond issue passes.
Meyer said the district would be able to construct two new ambulance stations, one in Pacific and the other in Villa Ridge, if the bond issue passes. He also said the district would purchase new medical equipment and supplies.
Meramec Ambulance has four stations, which are located in Pacific, Villa Ridge, Robertsville and St. Albans.
Prop A would allow the district to build a new House 4. The current station is at 741 Hwy. T in St. Albans inside the Boles Fire Protection District’s station. Meramec Ambulance was forced to relocate to Boles Fire’s station in 2021 due to deterioration and unsafe conditions in the old station, according to a statement from the district.
The new House 4 would be built on property the district owns at 388 Old Manchester Road in Pacific.
House 2, 3279 Hwy. 100, in Villa Ridge houses the district’s Administrative Office. The existing building would be transformed into a training area for public classes and staff use, according to the statement, and a new ambulance station would be constructed adjacent to the station.
The existing building would still be used for administrative offices as well as for medical supply storage.
Prop A also would be used to pay for renovations at House 1, 429 East Osage St., in Pacific and House 3, 7390 Hwy. O, in Robertsville.
If Prop A passes, the district would replace medical equipment such as automatic CPR machines, cardiac monitors and defibrillators.
“We strive to provide emergency services using the latest medical equipment and techniques in emergency medical care,” Meyer said. “Due to the rural proximity to hospitals, we want to ensure our teams are equipped with the best tools we can afford to help save the lives of our community members.”
