| Calhoun's Emergency Services Levy is up for renewal tomorrow.
Polls will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.
Voting will be conducted at the ten locations generally used for elections.
The most frequently asked question is whether the levy will raise taxes? It will not.
Levy elections are now five years instead of three, a measure approved by the legislature.
Another question, why is the special election being held now instead of being on Primary Election day?
The legal limits established for special levies would not allow it to be held at the time of the May Primary.
Some readers misread the 3.47 cents per $100 on Class I property, as being $3.47.
Voters are asked to go to the polls and vote for or against the levy, which provides funding for the county's three fire departments, the county ambulance service and supports the hiring of a deputy sheriff for law enforcement.
Even so, it has not always been supported in some precincts, and was once turned down by county voters.
Last time, the levy passed with a wide margin.
Josh Johnson' local EMS director, said he hopes people will call their neighbors and remind them the polls are open Saturday.
Failure to renew the levy would likely mean a critical scaling back of current services.
Commission President Larry McCallister said the Emergency Services Levy has no connection to 911 funding, or the current effort to build a small 911 center.
 "The levy is absolutely essential for Calhoun EMS to provide services," said Director Josh Johnson (left). "We could not operate at the level we are now, and most likely would have to shut down one of our stations."
Johnson said he is hopeful voters will go to the polls and vote to continue the levy. "We are asking citizens to consider the essential nature of our services and the services of the fire departments and law enforcement," he said.
 Arnoldsburg VFD Fire Chief Fred Waybright (right) said "It would be very, very difficult to operate without the levy." Waybright said his department strives to help the people in the community.
"The Arnoldsburg department has recently been involved in extended training programs, and has upgraded communications equipment," Waybright said.
All of the emergency service workers said the levy money goes toward basic operational expenses.
 "The Emergency Services Levy is an important funding source for the Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department," said Acting Chief Keith Smith (left). "We are asking every
voter who appreciates our work to come out on March 6th and vote for the levy."
"The department does lots of fund raisers to keep things going, and more recently to raise money for a new pumper truck," said Smith. "But the levy is the source of revenue which pays our bills."
Upper West Fork Fire Chief Randy Perkins is hopeful voters in his district will vote "yes" to continue the county's Emergency Services Levy.
"I have concerns that people will not understand there is no increase in taxes," he said. "It would be a real problem to keep our fire department going without the funds."
 "The ambulance service here on the West Fork is really important to the community," Perkins said (left). Washington District voters have not always supported the levy, with some precincts voting against it.
Both the Upper West Fork VFD and Calhoun Emergency Medical Services are located in the district, and the Arnoldsburg VFD is located in nearby Lee District.
The levy provides about $165,000 a year for the county's three fire departments and operation of the county ambulance system, in addition to providing funds for a deputy sheriff.
The levy is for five years instead of three, a change made for such levies by the legislature.
Calhoun's 24-hour ambulance service operates out of two stations, one south of Grantsville at Mt. Zion and the second just north of Minnora.
The ambulance service benefits the most from the levy, receiving 50%. The remaining 50% is split between the county's three fire departments, based on their coverage area.
The election returns will appear on the Herald as soon as the votes are tabulated.
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