Investing in public safety: Past, present & future
Scot Goddard, rear, is shown with his family.
By Jody Hanson
Heart attack survivor was given a ‘new life’ 17 years ago by MED-ACT first responders.
Scot Goddard wakes up every day thinking about what he might have missed over the past 17 years, including his marriage, seeing his daughter grow up and enjoying retirement in Spring Hill.
“Even though I’m 68, I tell people that I’m a teenager… 17 years old into my new life,” said Goddard.
His “new life” began on Sept. 3, 2008, after playing in a volleyball league game in Overland Park. About 30 seconds after not feeling well, he collapsed. Bystanders performed CPR for the brief time it took first responders from Johnson County MEDACT and Overland Park Fire to arrive. On scene, paramedics performed what was then a relatively new intervention called Cardio- Cerebral Resuscitation, which focuses on continuous chest compressions instead of compressions and rescue breaths.
“I survived what they call a ‘widow-maker’ due to a coronary artery blockage, and my surgeon later told me my life was saved long before I got to the hospital,” Goddard said.
Goddard had open heart surgery, and remembers when he was discharged from the hospital 11 days later, “the whole squad of first responders were there to walk out with me.”
He will be eternally grateful to those emergency responders who helped save his life.
“You don’t think this can happen to you, but it can happen anywhere, anytime to anyone,” said Goddard. “When you go down, you need trained people to save your life.”
A majority of Johnson County residents agree with Goddard. Year after year in the annual community survey, Johnson County residents say emergency medical/ambulance service is the most important service for the county to provide. They also say that safety and low crime should be the county’s top priorities for the next five years.
Growing needs and growing price tag
Scot Goddard enjoyed a 10-year reunion with the first responders who helped to save his life after a heart attack.
With inflation, a growing and aging population and uncertainty with the county’s future revenue, the county finds itself at a critical financial juncture. Calls for an ambulance have increased 67% since 2010. Additionally, more than half of those calls are coming from residents 65 and older. Whether it’s a 911 response, a call for an ambulance or a mental health co-responder, these services are experiencing record demand.
While demand has surged for public safety services, so have the costs. Inflation has increased prices for ambulance parts, medical supplies and food service in correctional facilities. At the same time, state legislative changes have slashed $38–$45 million annually from the county’s revenue since 2020.
Renewal of a public safety sales tax In an effort to maintain the current public safety response, the Board of County Commissioners voted on May 8 to put a renewal of the current 1/4 cent sales tax dedicated to public safety on the Nov. 4 ballot. Voters may remember this sales tax from when they first approved it in 2016 to finance transformative projects like the new county courthouse and medical examiner facility.
Following the completion of those one-time investments, the conversation has shifted—away from just buildings to the backbone of public safety services on which all Johnson Countians rely and prioritize.
“When you pick up the phone and call 911 in Johnson County, you will speak to a dispatcher within 15 seconds. If needed, an ambulance will most likely arrive at your door in 10 minutes or less,” said Johnson County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Mike Kelly.
“As Johnson County continues to grow and age, it is crucial that we maintain these safety services.”
If renewed, the sales tax would fund a wide variety of county public safety services, including:
- Vehicles (such as replacing aging ambulances)
- Technology (such as upgrading 911 systems)
- Equipment (such as emergency radios)
- First responders (such as EMS, Sheriff deputies and mental health co-responders)
- Facilities (such as new or renovated MED-ACT stations)
Lifelong appreciation for his public safety lifeline
Goddard will never forget the importance of ambulances, the 911 system, first responders and other components of the emergency medical system. He makes a point to share his story and say thank you whenever he comes across a first responder.
For several years after his heart attack, Goddard would run into some of the crew that saved his life while dining at a neighborhood restaurant, stay in touch through Facebook and even deliver lunch to the crew’s MED-ACT station.
Just before the 10-year anniversary of his heart attack, Goddard requested and was granted a 10-year reunion with the responders who helped save his life.
At the lunch event at a local barbecue restaurant, Goddard asked his daughter to read aloud a letter he had written to the responders on his behalf…he did not think he could get through it. The letter included the following thoughts about what he experienced the 10 years after his incident.
“I have dedicated most of this time to my family. I watched my daughter grow up from an 8-year-old to an 18-year-old now in college. I have celebrated my 20th anniversary with my wife who is also my best friend. Thank you for all you do and know you are impacting lives.”
Jody Hanson is deputy director of the Johnson County Department of Communications and Engagement.
By the Numbers: MED-ACT in 2024
Last year, Johnson County EMS accomplished the following:
- 63,129 Units dispatched
- 37,958 Patient Transports
- 11,289 Sick Calls
- 5,079 Breathing Calls
- 4,576 Traffic Calls
- 3,082 Chest Pain Calls
- 1,923 Stroke Calls
Did you know?
- If approved by voters, the renewal would extend the existing Public Safety Sales Tax for an additional 10 years.
- It would raise about $54 million a year, split between the county (64%) and JoCo cities (36%.) That means all Johnson County cities also have access to these funds for their public safety needs.
- More than 28% of sales taxes collected in Johnson County come from visitors, not residents.
- A 1/4 cent sales tax equals one penny on a $5 coffee, and $1.25 on a $499 outdoor grill.
You can stay engaged on this issue between now and the General Election on Nov. 4, 2025 by visiting jocogov.org/salestaxrenewal. Review results from a recent survey on the issue, share your feedback or request someone to speak on the topic at your organization’s next meeting.