Spring Valley reaches agreement with 10/33 Ambulance; city to evaluate sales tax increase

The Spring Valley City Council on Monday announced the city has come to an agreement with the 10/33 Ambulance Service to maintain that service moving forward, possibly initiating a significant sales tax increase.

Spring Valley Mayor Melanie Malooley-Thompson said that the agreement is the result of several months of negotiations with 10/33 and, though no financial figures were disclosed, “reflects the realities of costs of providing ambulance service in the area following the closure of St. Margaret’s Hospital.”

The hospital closed on June 16, 2023, depriving 10/33 of one of its major sources of income. That closing came just a few months after the closing of the St. Margaret’s Peru facility, which has since been purchased by OSF HealthCare and reopened under the name OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

“During this time, the city was attempting to negotiate the best contract for its citizens,” Malooley-Thompson said, “while engaging in due diligence by examining financial records and consulting with the surrounding communities. As always, the council and I are actively working to minimize the impact of this increasing expense on our citizens.

“This increase represents a significant expense for the city that was not previously planned for. In order to prevent a property increase to provide the required funds for the increase, the city is evaluating a sales tax increase.”

The mayor assured the public that at no time was the city in danger of going without ambulance service. She added that the city has no control over which transport service local hospitals choose to use, however, a patient is free to request the service they want.

Malooley-Thompson also spoke of the 50-year legacy of 10/33 within the community and how its reputation “speaks volumes” and that the city is lucky to have “such a reputable partner.”

She also read into the record a letter from 10/33, thanking the city, village and township board members and all who were involved in the per-capita fee change process for their “trust and faith” in their willingness to work together to get the deal done.