JEFFERSON TWP — Township supervisors took a step to support their emergency medical services provider, the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company, by approving an additional half-mill tax solely for funding EMS services during a meeting Monday night, Oct. 13.

“I absolutely feel that we need the EMS tax added to our budget,” Supervisor John Cypher said. “It’s throwing a lifeline to them.”

State law permits municipalities to impose a tax of up to 0.5 mills to exclusively fund emergency medical services.

The EMS tax will go into effect at the start of 2026. Township manager Leo Rosenbauer said the tax is estimated to cost $9.89 per year for each eligible household, which would net the township just over $22,000.

“I know people don’t like to hear the words ‘raise taxes’,” Rosenbauer said. “But for two cups of coffee a year, I would prefer to have the service that we have in this area, versus a regional service. ... In my personal opinion, $22,000 doesn't go far, but it would be a help.”

The tax comes after the township was visited by Chuck Lewis, president of the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company’s ambulance division, during the August supervisors meeting.

Lewis pleaded his case to the board that the ambulance service could use financial assistance, in the form of a half-mill EMS tax, to offset stagnant insurance reimbursements and rising expenses. He made a similar presentation to the other four municipalities in Saxonburg’s coverage area — Saxonburg and Clinton, Winfield, and Buffalo townships.

“Emergency responders are in their own economic emergency,” Cypher said. “Ambulances simply do not get paid for what it costs for each and every outing that they incur. And whether you want to blame it on insurance, Social Security, politics, whatever it is, it’s a fact. What it boils down to is, municipalities are responsible to provide ambulance service, by state law. Is the state going to help out with money? No. Is the federal government going to help out with money? No. Is the county going to help us with money? No. The only money available is what municipalities are going to put into it.”

Also discussed during the meeting was the possible implementation of an additional half-mill tax on any residence or business within 850 feet of a fire hydrant. Unlike the EMS tax, the fire hydrant tax was not voted on. Rosenbauer said it would probably take “several months,” leading into 2026, for supervisors to reach a decision on the hydrant tax.

Clinton Township approved a similar tax in October 2024, at 0.61 mills for all properties within 780 feet of a hydrant.