Buchanan opts in on Special Assessment District for EMS service

BUCHANAN, Mich. -- A unanimous vote puts the city of Buchanan one step closer to being included in the coverage area on the Special Assessment District for EMS.

The assessment would apply to all residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural properties in the city, including apartment units and mobile home pads.

Special assessments are additional charges that appear on property tax bills but aren't based on the taxable value of the home. They help to fund specific community services or improvements.

"We have thought very hard and very long about how that funding needs to be and how we need to come up with it and to keep the communities funding at as low as possible, so that we understand that there are challenges out there for some people, and we know that, you know, it's not easy for people to come up with extra money. And you know, we try to do that. We try to do the best we can to solve that," stated Operations Manager at the Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service Josh Kay.

The next public hearing will be on Oct. 14 and will focus on the cost of maintaining the service.