Kidder Township voters approved an increase in the township’s ambulance and rescue tax Tuesday, raising the levy from 1.3 mills to 2 mills.

The referendum passed 552-225, according to unofficial Carbon County returns. It drew 71% support.

The question asked whether the millage supporting the ambulance and rescue squad should rise under Section 68205(a)(8) of the Second Class Township Code.

Voters approved it on Election Day ballots 461-175 and on mail-in ballots 91-50. No provisional ballots were counted. Turnout on the question reached 55.39%, with 807 of 1,457 eligible voters casting ballots.

The Lake Harmony Rescue Squad had campaigned for the increase earlier this year, telling residents it needed the money to maintain services, train personnel and keep up with rising emergency medical costs.

Squad officials laid out their case at a September public meeting at the Kidder Township Municipal Building, where members displayed emergency equipment with price tags attached.

An automated external defibrillator runs $9,376. A jump bag stocked with medications and IV supplies costs $3,239.61. A stair chair costs about $1,500. Outfitting a single basic life support ambulance — the vehicle, stretcher and loading system, cardiac monitor, radios, a Lucas mechanical CPR device, an AED and medical supplies — totals nearly $500,000.

“We’re trying to cover costs using last year’s total of $500,000,” Chief Scott Wuttke said in September.

Wuttke, who has 25 years in emergency services, wore a $2,500 price tag at the meeting representing the cost of Advanced EMT training. The squad recently certified three members at that level, which allows them to administer IV medications and use intraosseous drills that deliver medication through bone access. Officials said three more members will go through the training.

Billing does not close the gap. The squad collects only about 33% of what it bills for services, officials said.

“We are there at one of the worst times in people’s lives. Thank you so much for helping, but fundraising itself isn’t enough anymore,” said Assistant Chief Kerril Lanum, who has served 17 years with the squad.