CENTER TWP — With EMS agencies struggling with rising costs, supervisors took a “first step” toward better supporting services in the township.

The township’s board of supervisors voted Wednesday evening, March 11, to draft a resolution that could ultimately bring a 0.5-mill EMS tax to the township.

Supervisor Mark Lauer brought the topic up for discussion at the meeting, stressing Butler Ambulance Service would be picking up calls at the Abie Abraham VA Health Care Center on North Duffy Road in the absence of VA Butler’s ambulance service.

“After talking with various people associated with the VA’s emergency services, that’s three to four additional calls per day that Butler Ambulance will have added to their plate. They’re already running, give or take, 1,200 to 1,300 EMS responses in Center Township per year now,” Lauer said.

He said with the EMS crisis likely to continue, he feels it is pertinent to establish a half-mill tax to support them.

While some concerns were raised over making a tax decision with the absence of Supervisor Don Pringle, solicitor Mike Gallagher reminded the board the resolution will need further approval before the tax is enacted.

Lauer added a plan to support EMS coverage in Center Township is in the works, but the tax will represent the first step of that support.

“We’re going to look forward to helping provide EMS coverage, as in a first response vehicle with a paramedic available Monday through Friday at some point,” he said.