County moves to create ambulance district

The Board of Elmore County Commissioners last week unanimously approved a resolution to form a county-wide ambulance district following a public hearing on Dec. 22. Creating a district would establish a secure and dedicated funding source for the operation of ambulance services within the county.

The service has been funded through the regular county budget which is capped at a three percent increase overall.

County Clerk Gail Best noted the only way the county has been able to meet the increasing costs has been through a transfer of PILT funds. "If we keep doing that, we will have to take away from law enforcement," she said.

Commissioner Larry Rose explained that when Medicare and Medicaid changed the ruling on what they would reimburse for ambulance service, it meant a substantial increase in the costs to the county. He noted in 2003 the county had paid $259,000 for ambulance service. In 2004, those costs increased to $343,000.

Forming a district would mean a maximum .0004 tax levy with the funds dedicated specifically to ambulance service. For commercial property assessed at $100,000 (without a homeowner's exemption), the tax would be approximately $60 per year -- $40 per year for property with an exemption.

Many of the people addressing the commissioners during the hearing expressed a desire for a taxing district that would include other emergency services as well as ambulance service.

Alan Roberts with the Rescue (Extrication) Unit explained they have been trying to figure out how to fund extrication for many years. If extrication could be included in an emergency services district, it would provide an avenue for funding that does not exist under the current structure.

Mountain Home Fire Chief Phil Gridley noted that his department is receiving more calls to vehicle fires out on the interstate. Each call costs approximately $200-$300 for the firefighters to respond. Yet, he said, there is no state law that allows for the department to be reimbursed, so the burden falls to the fire district taxpayers.

Others in the audience questioned a tax to pay for a private company. They wanted assurance that taxpayers outside the greater Mountain Home and Glenns Ferry areas -- such as Pine, Featherville, Prairie and Atlanta, would benefit from the formation of an ambulance service district.

Citizens asked what would become of the money currently designated for ambulance service as a line item in the general budget.

The commissioners along with attorneys Aaron Bazzoli and Phil Miller explained under current regulations, there were no provisions to allow formation of an emergency services district.

They also explained that the funds would not automatically go to the company currently under contract to provide ambulance service for Mountain Home and Glenns Ferry. The county would continue to support services in Pine, Prairie, and Atlanta just as it always has.

Removing the ambulance service as a line item does not mean that the county will suddenly have that much more money in its regular budget. The funding will still go for ambulance service, but through the dedicated funding of a district.

A number of those testifying during the public hearing expressed concerns with the current contract holder. The commissioners pointed out the company was the only one to respond to the request for proposals when the contract came up for renewal.

As public hearing drew to a close, Commissioner Mary Egusquiza read the resolution into the record and by unanimous decision the commissioners determined to form an ambulance service district.