Atchison-Holt Ambulance District Director Noah Mays, along with several of his board members, held a meeting in the board room at Community Hospital-Fairfax to discuss the tax levy they are requesting. Currently, the tax levy is .29¢ and has been that same rate since 1977. The board has put on the April 8, 2025, ballot an increase of .20¢, bringing our tax levy to .49¢. Noah explained that our district is one of the largest in the State of Missouri with 1,500 square miles which can put a lot of stress on the ambulances in the way of miles driven each year. They currently are on 24/7 with paramedics and EMTs who are trained and equipped with Advance Life Support (ALS), but this all comes at a cost. Noah explained the cost of a new ambulance versus reusing the old box and the minimum starts at $250,000 before putting any equipment or medication on the ambulance. Being able to pay the paramedics and EMTs is also becoming a challenge as the neighboring districts pay more. Noah went on to talk about if the tax does not pass and that the board will have to start making some decisions about their operation and how best to keep it going.