Crook County to make decision on forming EMS district

SUNDANCE — The county commissioners will soon consider a resolution that would establish a new district for emergency medical services in Crook County.

If they choose to move ahead, the Crook County Emergency Medical Services District would have the ability to raise up to four mills to support EMS – but only with the approval of voters.

The county has been considering this move for around a year, since representatives from the county’s ambulance services shared concerns about future funding.

“With the reduction in volunteerism, the decrease in reimbursement rates and the reduction in funding sources...I do believe it’s going to become increasingly difficult to operate without finding another source of funding,” said Brad McKee, Moorcroft EMS, as that conversation began.

He also pointed out that, “EMS services are not listed as essential services in the State of Wyoming, meaning there is no funding responsibility for any entity to provide any ambulance services.”

In 2023, the Wyoming State Legislature authorized the formation of EMS special taxing districts, an option that representatives shared as one way to secure funding levels.

Discussions continued over the next few months, with each ambulance service clear in their desire to maintain independence and autonomy. Each of the towns has its own, unique ambulance service, designed to suit its individual challenges and needs.

Hulett, for example, offers paramedic service – a higher level than other towns due to its distance from medical services, while Pine Haven must organize itself around the quiet winter followed by eight months of potentially back-to-back calls once Keyhole becomes busy.

By September, the commissioners had begun taking steps toward forming a countywide emergency services district and figuring out how it would work.

The resolution now under consideration would place the district under the control of a board of directors appointed by the county commissioners, with between three and nine members to serve three-year staggered terms.

It also states that the board of directors will attempt to collect for services rendered when patients transported by ambulance are covered by a private health insurance plan, Medicare, Medicaid or any other plan that provides coverage. The board will report on these collections quarterly to the county commissioners.

The district will have the power to request up to four mills, to be approved by voters within the district. If the request is approved, the tax will remain in effect until the commissioners receive a petition signed by at least 10% of voters to discontinue it.

If such a petition is received, the tax will be again placed on the ballot at the next election. If it is defeated, it cannot be again placed on a ballot for at least 23 months.

For a mill levy request to be made during this election cycle, the commission will need to approve the resolution to form the district before the ballots are finalized for this year. Before they can do so, they must hold a public hearing at least 60 days beforehand.

A public hearing will be held on May 6 at 2p.m., during the regular meeting of the commission, to hear comments on the district. Written comments may be submitted to be read during the hearing.

This story was published on March 26, 2026.