The anti-tax group “Freedom PAC” is once again using out-of-town money to mischaracterize a ballot issue in Buchanan County.
That’s the word from county officials who say “Freedom PAC” is not being honest with voters.
Heartland announced last year it would no longer provide ambulance service.
That left governments in the area with some tough choices.
Buchanan County Presiding Commissioner R.T. Turner says if Tuesday’s ballot issue for a county-run ambulance service fails, they will look into bringing in a national service. Turner says that will result in slower response times and higher fees.
But “Freedom PAC” has characterized it as a “bailout.”
In a widespread direct mail advertisement, the Kansas City based group offers up some disingenuous arguments against a “yes” vote. The mailer places the blame on Heartland, which says it’s losing millions on ambulance service.
“Politicians saying we need to bail out the hospital ambulance service are just scaring voters,” reads the mailer, a slick, Halloween-themed glossy flier that features a skeleton, a ghost and a grave.
“Don’t let policiticians scare you; vote no on the Buchanan County Bailout!”
Turner says “Freedom Pac” is misleading voters.
“It doesn’t have anything to do with the campaign,” Turner said. “Heartland notified us a year in advance that they were going quit ambulance service.”
“So this election is really about the quality of ambulance service. Do they want to keep the same, high-quality service we have today, or a lesser service?”
Turner says this is the only ballot initiative they’ll put forward on ambulance service. If the measure fails, he says the county commission will likely look into bringing in a national company.
“We will look and see if there’s a national carrier that will come in and run it for a profit. We’ve had one bid come in that way. That’s where the lower response times and the higher fees come in.”
As to “Freedom PAC,” Turner says he doesn’t know who that is.
“What we understand is it’s not local money, it’s money coming in from outside this community, once again coming in to influence what we do in this community.”
Voting on the issue takes place Tuesday.