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West Virginians have among the lowest voter turn-out rates in the USA.
That poses a problem for our democratic form of government, because those vested in their candidates or issues make the choices.
Calhoun, for many years has had a levy that supports some basic services for citizens.
The levy was instituted because the county lacks the general tax funds to support such services.
The county has among the lowest taxes on the eastern seaboard, and elected officials have essentially kept taxes down because the county (in addition to about half of other West Virginia counties) has few jobs and incomes are low.
The current Emergency Services and Criminal Justice Levy supports important services to the citizens of the county.
It does not raise taxes.
The distribution of levy money has been slightly changed, taking a small amount from ambulance services and reallocating it to paying for a full-time prosecutor.
Calhoun is one of three WV counties that does not have a full-time prosecutor, with the prosecutor's caseload for felonies increasing 300% in the past five years.
A few citizens have voiced that Minnie Hamilton Health System should be eliminated from the estimated $85,000 annual levy support.
While such intentions may have been put forth, MMHS is facing serious financial challenges maintaining the service with about 18% of the calls not eligible for reimbursement.
There is a further glitch regarding MHHS being reimbursed at a higher rate because they are a rural health facility. There's a disheartening rule that denies such reimbursement, related to distances from ambulance services in neighboring counties.
It would be fair to say that Calhoun citizens are somewhat spoiled in having an ambulance to respond to just about everything, including well-being checks and situations where an ambulance is generally not needed, but good to have an ambulance there.
In several rural WV counties, with volunteers and partially-paid ambulance providers, or with commercial ambulance companies, responses sometimes have long delays or ambulances are not dispatched to calls that are not paid.
In Calhoun, we have tried to go the extra mile.
If, for whatever reason, MMHS would decide to not provide ambulance, it would be likely county residents would be reduced to minimal or sketchy service.
Not affected in the levy call, is some funding for the fire departments and for a deputy sheriff.
Hopefully, county voters will approve the levy on February 1.
See CALHOUN VOTERS ASKED TO RENEW LEVY ON FEBRUARY 1 - Levy Will Not Increase Taxes
CALHOUN PROSECUTOR REPORTS MAJOR INCREASES IN COURT CASES - 300% Increase In Felony Cases In Five Years
MINNIE HAMILTON STEPS TO PLATE PROVIDING AMBULANCE SERVICE - CEO Explains Financial Challenges
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