Oklahoma House Rep. Mike Dobrinski led an interim study Thursday examining the state's 522 Emergency Medical Services districts, focusing on funding structures and service sustainability in rural communities.
Dobrinski also participated in a separate study examining how public school districts' General Fund balance penalties affect schools operating outside the traditional School Funding Formula, held with Rep. Dick Lowe, chair of the House Common Education Committee.
"Both emergency ambulance services and public school funding are incredibly important issues to constituents throughout the state," Dobrinski said. "In both cases, we must make sure we have the right laws in place to ensure fairness when appropriating taxpayer dollars."
A 522 EMS District, named after State Question 522 approved by voters in 1976, is a locally organized, voter-approved district that provides dedicated public funding and local board governance for emergency medical services. Interim Study IS26-056 reviewed how the districts' funding is administered, including the role of county governments and the Oklahoma Tax Commission, and assessed challenges facing rural ambulance providers including rising costs.
Presenters included representatives from state and local EMS services and Marie Schuvel, director of Tax Policy Research with the Oklahoma Tax Commission, who detailed historical funding practices.
The second study, IS26-021, reviewed General Fund balance penalties for public school districts and examined the number of school districts operating off-formula. Presenters included school district superintendents discussing the state's School Funding Formula and legislative changes needed to support school financial stability.