TUSCOLA - As the election nears, Douglas County officials are worried voters might reject a tax increase designed to provide more funding for additional ambulances and safety improvements for the county jail.

The referendum on Douglas County ballots asks citizens to approve a sales tax increase to generate an estimated $800,000 a year. Charles Knox, chairman of the Douglas County Board, said jail improvements will get $256,000 and ambulance and other first responders will get $400,000, with the rest, about $144,000, set aside for contingencies.

A similar referendum last year was defeated by a slim margin. If it fails again, Knox said it is doubtful another attempt will be made to get it on the ballot in the April elections.

"The county won't put it back on again for the foreseeable future," Knox said. "If it fails, you can bet somebody isn't going to make it because an ambulance didn't get there in time."

In Douglas County, only five ambulances are at the ready to be deployed at a given time, and one is not under contract to respond to emergency calls. Tuscola City Administrator Drew Hoel said there also is a likelihood that Villa Grove might need to end its contract with the ambulance it hires due to rising costs.

In response, Hoel has helped create an intergovernmental group to organize a plan for the proposed sales tax. The municipalities of Tuscola, Arcola, Villa Grove, Atwood, Newman, Camargo, Hindsboro and Garrett, as well as several of the surrounding townships, sent representatives to negotiate terms. Hoel said the county is working with the group.

"We asked them to work with us and maybe commit some funding, and we've done a lot of work in the last several months to put together a plan and a proposal to do that," Hoel said.

The plan would provide for six ambulances at all times: two run by the Arthur and Oakland fire protection districts and four under contract, Hoel said.

Knox said issues with the jail also are a big concern.

The 26-year-old facility is presenting problems for county sheriff's officers, including how to keep certain types of inmates separated due to space constraints. Knox said it is tough to keep male and female inmates apart as well as violent criminals and less serious offenders.

klowe@herald-review.com|421-7985