MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A renewal of the Monongalia County levy focused on emergency medical services will be on the ballot in the upcoming November General Election Ballot.
The Mononongalia County Commission unanimously approved the placement of the levy on the ballot during its recent meeting. It will be in the same format in which it was originally passed back in 2022.
The proposed four-year levy renewal would keep the 4.8 cents for every $100 of assessed valuation for Class II (owner-occupied) property and 9.6 cents for every $100 of Class III and IV (commercial) property that were in place when previously passed by county voters.
Mon EMS Interim Executive Director Bob Swickard reported during Wednesday’s meeting that first responders working with the agency responded to over 84,000 calls over the four-year period. Averaging at around 22,000 responses, these ranged from heart attacks to car accidents with a reported survival rate to discharge at a level that is significantly above average. Services that are supported as part of the levy that would average out at about 36 cents per day per resident if renewed.
“In the last four years, Mon EMS has responded to 84,450 calls for service, we respond to everything from general illnesses to very tragic accidents,” said Swickard. “When our employees come to work, they never know what they might see.”
Swickard also noted that Mon EMS uses the levy to support community education as part of an effort to maintain the high survival rates. This includes the hosting of CPR classes in various parts of the county as well as the four-week Citizens Academy, where they also learn AED certifications and see many of the things EMS personel see on a daily basis. Efforts they intend to continue if the levy is renewed.
“A key component in that survival rate is bystander CPR, last year we hosted two free community CPR classes, and in addition, we have trained 16 community residents through our Citizens Academy,” said Swickard.
Commissioner Sean Sikora openly expressed support towards placing the levy renewal on the Mon County general election ballot based on the results seen over the past few years. Coupled with the still-declining number of EMS agencies located within West Virginia, the renewal of the levy is considered important not just to provide quality emergency services to stand out amongst other counties but also to also help residents stay safe in the event something happens.
“There is no model like this across the state, and we are all equal partners, we have the two hospital systems that make up Mon EMS, and the citizens through the levy support it,” Sikora said. “People just have to realize you’re paying for readiness, and you’re paying for readiness so when that readiness is needed, it’s there.”