If Jim Talkington is elected Allen County commissioner, he suspects he’ll then be “in the know” of why the county is against merging ambulance service with the city of Iola.
“All I know is that there is some information county commissioners are privy to that makes them dead set against two services,” he said Monday afternoon. “I suppose once I have access to that information, I may feel differently, too.”
Meanwhile, the two services are hemorrhaging money. The county’s budget has increased five times for ambulance service since it broke away from the city, from $259,160 to $1,310,844. Iola’s budget for ambulance also has ballooned to $362,000 from $287,989 over the past three years. Coupled with its fire department, the two services have more than a $1 million budget.
The county makes ends meet by supplementing ambulance income with property taxes. This year’s levy of 3.149 mills raised about $300,000.
Talkington said he doesn’t hold out hope a committee appointed by county and city leaders will resolve the dispute.
“The members have preconceived notions of what should be done,” he said, leaving little room for compromise.
A state review, due any day now, likely will recommend a blended service, Talkington said, but, again, he’s doubtful this will happen.
“All I know is that commissioners Rob Francis and Gary McIntosh ran for office four years ago saying the ambulance situation was their No. 1 priority. After they were elected, they changed their minds.”
Up until 2007, the city and county worked together to provide a single service.
Talkington said he was “surprised” to learn the county’s budget has significantly grown in the last 10 years, as reported in the Register last week.
In the past 10 years, the county’s budget has gone from $7 million to $12 million. The mill levy on property taxes has increased from approximately 33 mills to 67 mills over the past 10 years.
Talkington said he doesn’t “see much wrong,” with county affairs. “I figure there will be a big learning curve for the first year of office,” he said. “I’m excited at the opportunity to serve.”
For the past 14 years he has served on the Allen Community College board of trustees.
Talkington also has his sights on higher office.
“I thought this was the year I’d run for the Kansas House of Representatives, but my wife Stacy had other ideas,” he said.
“I think this will be a good stepping stone to state office,” he said of the role of a county commissioner. “I’d eventually like to run for state Senate as well.”
