FAYETTEVILLE -- Ambulance service may cost less than expected for cities and rural areas needing new service next year, said Becky Stewart, Washington County Regional Ambulance Authority-Central EMS chief.
"We finally boiled it down to what this is going to take and what we believe will work for everybody," Stewart said.
Future Revenue
The Washington County Regional Ambulance Authority-Central EMS needs stable income to cover a projected increase in calls for service as Northwest Arkansas grows, officials said Wednesday. The problem may be solved if the authority seeks a quarter-cent sales tax from voters on the 2016 General Election ballot. “What we are looking at is a sustainable income to cover future costs of the ambulance, the future cost of readiness, and that’s the piece that’s not covered by reimbursement of transports,” said Becky Stewart, CEMS chief.
Source: Staff Report
Springdale plans to stop ambulance service, except for mutual aid response, to some cities and part of rural northwest Washington County on Jan. 1.
Mayors and some authority members have said they want the authority to expand its service, but Elm Springs and Tontitown mayors said they couldn't pay the nearly $800,000 price tag.
An executive committee has been looking for a solution for months. On Wednesday, the committee revealed tentative figures and a plan to pay for the expansion.
"Now we are saying: We think one ambulance and a night crew will provide coverage for the area," Stewart said. "That's our recommendation."
The newest estimate includes one ambulance and 10 employees for $438,000, which is lower than an original estimate that had an option for one ambulance at $557,000 this year and another next year for $813,000, records show. Or, for cities to pay for two ambulances costing $798,000 this year.
Tontitown Mayor Paul Colvin said Wednesday the new plan is better for his city. Elm Springs Mayor Harold Douthit didn't return a phone message left at his office Wednesday.
"I think (the numbers) are a lot better than what they were in January," Colvin said.
The lower cost is partly because the authority is buying a new ambulance this year to improve the overall system, committee members said Wednesday. Members agreed last month to raise fees in 2016 as part of those improvements.
The new expansion plan cuts the upfront cost to cities through a loan for equipment and an ambulance, Stewart said. Instead of cities coming up with all the cash immediately, the authority would pay about $4,500 a month next year, Stewart said.
Tontitown, with roughly 2,400 people, had been expected to pay the most under the original two-ambulance plan at $265,000 this year. By putting off costs, Tontitown pays only for training expenses, about $38,000, this year, Stewart said.
Training is expected to cost about $190,000 total, Stewart said.
Annual costs for all the cities and county is expected to go down in 2016 under the new plan, she said.
Authority members hope the Washington County Quorum Court will approve transferring roughly $230,000 that it pays to Springdale for ambulance service to the authority next year. The Quorum Court hasn't approved that move, but members seem to want to use the money for the authority next year, County Judge Marilyn Edwards has said.
The numbers released Wednesday aren't final, but Colvin said he feels better about what his city is expected to pay. He hopes to present the costs to the City Council, probably in June, he said.
The authority board meets at 11 a.m. April 15 at the county courthouse to decide on the new plan, Stewart said.
NW News on 04/02/2015