Millstadt/smithton district election and tax proposal info

Want to see our statistics? We want to be as transparant as possible with you!! We ran every revelant statistic that we could find on our report software. Take a look below in the files! Stay tuned for information regards tax rates.

Millstadt Ambulance Service will be placing a critical referendum on the March 2026 ballot to become an independent ambulance taxing district. This proposed district will cover Millstadt, Smithton, Hecker, and surrounding areas already served — including Stookey Township and the entire portion of the Hecker Fire Protection District within St. Clair County.

This referendum is not about politics — it’s about preserving and strengthening emergency medical services for the communities we serve.

This Referendum Creates a Full-Time, Community-Focused Ambulance District
Millstadt Ambulance Service currently operates with a tax rate of just 0.0952, bringing in only $235,000 per year — not even half of what it takes to staff a single ambulance full-time. To operate one ambulance 24/7, with one EMT, one paramedic, and a salaried EMS chief, our estimated payroll is over $540,000 annually.

That’s approximately $62 per hour to ensure a fully staffed, advanced life support ambulance is ready to respond at a moment’s notice — to your emergency, your neighbor’s heart attack, your child’s seizure.

Importantly, this estimate only covers payroll. It does not include:

• Equipment and supply costs

• Medication restock and expiration

• Fuel, maintenance, or vehicle replacement

• Building mortgage or utilities

• Workman’s comp, insurance, or administrative costs

It also excludes our interfacility transfer crews, who fund themselves through billing and do not rely on tax revenue.

Our current system is not sustainable — and it’s only being held together because our dedicated EMS providers have stepped up beyond their duties. Our crews paid for and completed station renovations themselves — after shifts, on weekends — not because they were asked to, but because they wanted a better, more welcoming place to live during their long shifts. They knew funding wasn't available anytime soon, but they still did the work, because they believe in Millstadt EMS, and they want to call it home.

This referendum is about giving them that chance — the opportunity to work in a full-time system where they can build a career, plant roots, and serve a community they’re proud of. It's also about giving our residents the stable, professional, high-quality EMS service they deserve.

A YES vote creates a full-time, tax-supported ambulance district that will allow us to:

• Place a dedicated ambulance in Smithton

• Invest in advanced equipment and training

• Host public programs and community events

• Build a permanent EMS base with public space

• Deliver long-term healthcare access through community paramedicine and nurse practitioner support

Millstadt deserves a full-time ambulance service — and our EMS professionals deserve the opportunity to make Millstadt their full-time home.

✅ What a YES Vote Means:

• A Long-Term, Sustainable EMS Solution
  This will secure Millstadt EMS as a permanent, full-time service, ending our current reliance on only part-time staff. It allows us to offer competitive wages, health benefits, and retirement — all essential for recruiting and retaining skilled EMTs and paramedics.

• An Ambulance for Smithton & Hecker Residents
  A YES vote jumpstarts our plan to place a fully equipped, reliable ambulance in the Smithton Fire Protection District, improving response times and ensuring these residents receive the same high-quality care as Millstadt.

• A Modern EMS Base for the Public
  This initiative includes long-term plans to build a dedicated EMS facility with community classrooms for CPR, Stop the Bleed, first aid, and health education programs.

• Investment in Life-Saving Equipment
  Passage of the referendum allows us to immediately order another new ambulance, ensuring Smithton will receive modern, comfortable, and dependable emergency transport.

• State-of-the-Art Training Equipment

A YES vote supports investment in cutting-edge simulation tools for EMTs, paramedics, and advanced level practitioners. This includes advanced airway mannequins, trauma and cardiac arrest simulators, and virtual training platforms — ensuring our providers stay sharp and prepared. These tools will also be used to deliver community CPR, first aid, and Stop the Bleed classes, empowering residents with lifesaving skills.

• Access to Advanced Care
  We are already in the process (August 2025) of hiring Nurse Practitioners, as part of our vision to expand into Community Paramedicine (long term strategic plan) — offering in-home care, chronic disease management, and preventative services that reduce hospital visits and save lives.

❌ What a NO Vote Means:

• No Dedicated Ambulance for Smithton or Hecker
  These areas will remain dependent on coverage from For Profit Private EMS services unless you are already receving services from Millstadt EMS. 

• Continued Staffing Shortages
  Without full-time status, we will continue to struggle to recruit and retain qualified EMS professionals due to low wages, no benefits, and no retirement incentives.

• Equipment Risks and Delays
  We will be unable to purchase new ambulances, risking delays in care if our aging fleet breaks down.

• Uncertain Future for Local EMS
  Rising medical costs, competition for paramedics, and inflation may force Millstadt Ambulance Service to dissolve if no sustainable funding is secured. This would leave our residents dependent on outside agencies that may be farther away or unavailable.

This is not an expansion of government — it’s a commitment to public safety, healthcare access, and future-ready EMS.

We urge every resident of Millstadt, Smithton, Hecker, and Stookey Township to vote YES for a safer, healthier future.

🔗 Stay tuned here and on our Facebook page for updates and informational sessions.

📲 If you’d like to contribute to our campaign, please scan the QR code below to donate and support the movement toward independent EMS.

WE WILL BE RELEASING THE TAX PROJECTIONS BASED ON YOUR CURRENT APPRAISED HOME, PLEASE BE PATIENT, WE DONT WANT TO PUT OUT FALSE INFORMATION AND WILL ONLY RELEASE INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY OUR ATTORNEY.