Op-Ed: Jefferson County Ambulance Levy
By Art Da Rosa • May 8, 2025The following Op-Ed was submitted by Art da Rosa. Op-Eds do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of those at the Idaho Dispatch.
Recently, I learned that on May 20th, the residents of Jefferson County will be asked to vote on a new Ambulance District. I don’t sincerely understand about this proposition, and I have some questions and concerns.
First, those promoting this proposition argued that a new Ambulance District is necessary to: (a) Improve Response Time; (b) Advance EMS Capabilities; (c) Increase Community Safety; and(d) Ensure In Our County All Have Access To High Quality Services As Our Surrounding Counties.
On “Improving Response Times,” I have talked to many of my neighbors. None of them expressed a concern that response time is a problem in the County of Jefferson. I dare say that the residents of County of Jefferson have no concerns about ambulance response time. It is not a problem that we see. Further, I don’t know a single person that has been asked on this issue. It is my opinion that poor response time is a fabricated issue.
I am quite certain that the promoters of the Ambulance District can cite examples to justify their views. But, these will be isolated cases … which amount to excuses only. Frankly, in many of the advance metropolitan areas where ambulance services are properly provided, examples of injuries exist. An Ambulance District cannot fix that.
And the last justification that “will ensure residents in our county have access to the same high-quality services as our surrounding counties” sounds very much like keeping up with the Jones’s. We all know that Idaho is growing, including the County of Jefferson. The growth comes from people moving in from elsewhere. Here is the secret. They did not move here to enjoy the superior ambulance service, or expecting to live like the areas where they left. Many move-ins are ex-Californians. They moved here expecting to find limited conservative governments. Governments that stay true to their principles of protecting our unalienable rights. That’s all. Nothing more.
What does the proposition of a new Ambulance District mean? Aside from using an excuse of response time and keeping up with the Jones’s, it represents one more important fact. More governments. A new district is a new government entity in our County. One that is independent from the supervision of other entities. The new ambulance district will not have accountability to the cities nor the county. You heard me right. The cities under the district or the county will have no jurisdiction over the new Ambulance District. Why would I want to vote for a new proposition like that?
I don’t. And I argue that you don’t either. A new district is just a bad idea.
And what about the cost? And other so-call advantages that it brings? They won’t. It will be a discussion for next time.
Art da Rosa, PE, MPA, CFM
Rigby, Idaho
Tags: Ambulance, Art Da Rosa, Budget, Jefferson County, Op-Ed, taxes
Some excellent points here! Thank you for stating what careful voters need to know.
We’d also like to know how the following passed legislation will affect local ambulance districts. Haven’t been able to figure it out (even after talking with our fire chief), but it’s concerning:
H0206 – Emergency medical services: https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/H0206
H0207- Emergency med svcs, replica compact: https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/H0207
Mr. Rosa, it sounds like you have a lot of questions about that proposed ambulance district, but I’m not sure you’re going to find the answers by writing an editorial on the internet. There are numerous critical behind-the-scenes facets of EMS operations that you might not be aware of, such as the need to staff interfacility transfers that consume resources away from 911 service. I dont live there so I dont know what specifically they’re facing in that system. Idaho is currently losing paramedics faster than they can replenished, so keeping up with the Jones’ might also look like keeping up with competitive pay. In any case, the people with these answers aren’t here! It would be better to ask the public safety people in your district.
The levy is to upgrade the ambulance service from basic to advanced life support. Currently Central Fire runs a basic life support service. Any calls that require ALS transport have to wait for Idaho Falls to respond or Central has to rendezvous with Idaho Falls to transfer the patient to their ambulance. Calls like heart attacks, trauma, seizures, respiratory distress or even a broken bone that needs IV pain medication require an ALS crew to transport. So it isn’t just to “keep up with Jones’ “.