10/22/2026
Statement Regarding San Juan County Proposition 7
Proposition 7 is about addressing a growing challenge facing rural emergency medical services: how to maintain reliable, professional ambulance coverage across one of the largest and most geographically challenging counties in Utah.
San Juan County EMS has served our communities since the early 1970s. However, the way emergency medical services are delivered and funded has changed significantly. Increasing personnel costs, additional training requirements, aging equipment, and declining reimbursement rates have created financial challenges that our current funding model cannot sustainably address.
Currently, San Juan County EMS relies on revenue generated from patient transports to fund operations. In 2025, approximately 64% of our patients were covered by government insurance programs, and our overall reimbursement averaged approximately 29 cents for every dollar billed. Additionally, a significant portion of our emergency responses do not result in transport and therefore generate no billing revenue.
Proposition 7 proposes a 1% sales and use tax intended to provide a more dependable funding source for emergency medical services. The estimated $1.2 million in annual revenue would support staffing, ambulance availability, equipment replacement, training, and the long-term sustainability of EMS throughout our service area.
One important consideration is that approximately 40% of our emergency responses involve individuals from outside our area. A sales tax would allow visitors and tourists to contribute toward maintaining the emergency services available to them, rather than placing the entire financial responsibility on local residents.
"When someone calls 911, they don't care how the ambulance is funded. They care that someone answers, that qualified personnel respond, and that help arrives when they need it. Proposition 7 is about building a sustainable system capable of meeting that expectation."
This proposition is not simply about purchasing ambulances or increasing staffing. It is about ensuring that when someone calls 911, whether in Monticello, Blanding, Bluff, La Sal or our remote backcountry, we have the personnel, equipment, and resources necessary to respond.
We recognize that any proposed tax increase deserves careful consideration, and we encourage residents to become informed about both the financial challenges facing EMS and the intended use of the proposed funding.
Ultimately, Proposition 7 gives the voters of San Juan County the opportunity to determine how emergency medical services will be supported moving forward.
I welcome the opportunity to answer additional questions, provide operational statistics, or discuss the challenges of delivering emergency medical care in rural San Juan County.
Jeremy Hoggard
EMS Director
San Juan County EMS
