[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6533823,"mediaKeyId","3657380-4e2b6c43ed4d3e76fdf27be68a4779c4","parentId",3657380,"title","Crossville considers city-run ambulance service after residents and medical director press need; council to vote next week","audioSeconds",2763,"startMs",1497000,"endMs",4260000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3657380-4e2b6c43ed4d3e76fdf27be68a4779c4&start=1497&end=4260","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3657380-4e2b6c43ed4d3e76fdf27be68a4779c4/thumbnail_1497000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6533823/Crossville/Cumberland-County/Tennessee/Crossville-considers-city-run-ambulance-service-after-residents-and-medical-director-press-need-council-to-vote-next-week","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533823-df9151b442b268accd997ad4170b4f3f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153042&Signature=MaDOmnxb4wAAcyTBG~ofXeLJN3FVnA~D9YZdys4jTGnmu5KanUEeR8lQ8u6jvjWJKjiRGVslm6uqf5ddfsAnet0lu1vtoLovFmqoVIj4iI6gm7hTna7rhFe5074DTv1Pw6pa8KllnajYCRp44~y-4TBOsVVt5HGah5DyZ0dwrIUEBuQp66X3Ios69mSmo5YsTybJOPHsPrvZUZZ092aVUs-KpoERFvfBy5xJEh8FHXs4E-Ik9RVSp8wbPLkz0QM-KPdYCX34clrY7jy0pN8LaPWKf705Io9I4zEQ0f1TRNlsj6BYPKLmOjpkfAroIUeThYLRbw6WWq1eZdpqyRZSlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Crossville","date","2025-06-03T00:00:00Z","article","Crossville City Council moved discussion of a proposal to establish a city-operated ambulance service to next week’s voting session after public comment, medical testimony and a finance briefing highlighted both potential lifesaving benefits and substantial budget shortfalls.

Resident Mickie Eldridge urged the council to approve a city ambulance based in the fire department, saying long waits and occasional equipment failures had endangered her family. “It was important to our family that we needed an ambulance to get her there,” Eldridge said, describing multiple episodes in which lack of available transport delayed care. “I just want you to know it matters to me as a taxpayer. We need city ambulance service badly.”

The council heard a medical overview from Jim Wojak, identified as the medical director for local emergency medical services and city fire/EMS, who described training and continuing education in the local system. “Every one of our personnel with C.C.E.M.S. has obtained over 100 hours of CME in 2024,” Wojak said, and he described recent awards the EMS system and personnel have received for clinical care.

City staff and departmental leaders outlined operational and financial considerations. Chris Miller, identified in the meeting as the director of EMS, said the current payer mix limits revenue from transports: “As far as the…payer group today…80% of our payer group is Medicare, TennCare, or TennCare,” he said, noting that many calls are not billable or are reimbursed at rates far below billed charges.

Finance Director Nathan (last name not specified in the record) presented several cost scenarios and revenue assumptions the council would need to cover if it establishes a municipal ambulance service. He said the city’s initial carry cost could create a roughly $1.5 million to $1.8 million shortfall annually and recommended options for covering it, including a property tax increase. “Minimum, 30¢,” Nathan said when asked what property‑tax increase would be required; he added that “each penny increase is $62,316” in annual revenue for the city. Nathan also noted startup timing and cash‑flow issues, saying the service would likely begin incurring personnel and equipment expense before transport revenue started (staffing beginning earlier than July 1, 2026, while transports would produce revenue only after implementation).

Council members asked about alternatives and fiscal impact. Several members acknowledged the public‑safety rationale but pressed for specifics on how the city would pay for recurring personnel, equipment and billing shortfalls. One council member warned that if the city provides ambulances inside municipal boundaries, the county could reduce its support, changing call volumes and potentially worsening staffing and budget outcomes for county EMS.

Operational risks were also flagged. Miller said city action could reduce county call volume and, in his view, lead to significant staffing impacts in the county EMS operation: “I very much could see a lot of people losing their job,” he said, explaining that the largest share of current call volume is inside the city.

Council action: the item was formally scheduled for the next regular voting session so the council can consider a formal motion and possible funding mechanism. At the work session several council members asked staff to provide more detailed financing options (tax scenarios, use of reserves, potential billing revenues and staffing plans) before the vote.

The council also heard several related, shorter updates at the same meeting: training and credentialing levels in the existing EMS operation, that some local fire personnel receive paramedic training supported by community funds, and that billing and collection rates vary widely by payer (Medicare, Medicaid/TennCare, commercial insurance and private pay). City staff said they had consulted a billing vendor and compared budgets with a similar municipal ambulance program (Mount Juliet) to develop revenue ranges.

Council members and staff emphasized the choice before them: adopt a city ambulance with a defined plan to fund recurring costs, or defer action. The council moved the item to next week’s voting session for a formal decision.

Ending: The council did not vote on establishment at the work session; members instead asked staff to return with a detailed fiscal plan for a vote at the next regular meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Crossville - Work Session - Jun 03, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Crossville City Council moved discussion of a proposal to establish a city-operated ambulance service to next week’s voting session after public comment, medical testimony and a finance briefing highlighted both potential lifesaving benefits and substantial budget shortfalls.","taxTitle","Crossville, Cumberland County, Tennessee","taxId",71189,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6533819,"Crossville finance director warns water/sewer fund squeezed by ARPA depreciation; staff floats possible 10% rate increase",329,4483000,4812000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3657380-4e2b6c43ed4d3e76fdf27be68a4779c4&start=4483&end=4812","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3657380-4e2b6c43ed4d3e76fdf27be68a4779c4/thumbnail_4483000.jpg","/articles/6533819/Crossville/Cumberland-County/Tennessee/Crossville-finance-director-warns-watersewer-fund-squeezed-by-ARPA-depreciation-staff-floats-possible-10-rate-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533819-1b0c7964b0db7a0d2a4eac19498792a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153042&Signature=bhmEs4fv60rtLY24KlMoK8a99TGyMc1Vm6W6EMV0XZRUypS1ceWjk6UXq0H1~bJIJwpXPlf0114k5bIkYLpz5~XgKppDD-H6-uwOFUCbeMuZWa6~l5HliEYaXFi7vU0OZBwBGXjwXCwGL9CuOaPaxgCrDNy-IbS4cIYfcU~k~CxfwwYzhkamLuh2sj4ai-LBBLVsFqjqvnMwOd7QwreWlEiJIAH7xivOZPbKun1EwMIzIQsmXS7rgBm7DP1itTDRNeJz8HzWh5s5skXHKnUnpviLZYqmW2YgWMesE9rZMksRpbJhI-5E6XzRxt1njHTeMG3IHLPvvxs5IsusDErDNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City finance staff told Crossville City Council the water and sewer enterprise fund faces narrow margins because of depreciation on recent capital projects funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies and lower interest income, and staff recommended the council consider a rate adjustment to avoid future deficits.

Finance Director Nathan (last name not specified) told council the water/sewer budget for the coming fiscal year currently shows a roughly $12,000 surplus but warned that depreciation and contract increases will shrink that cushion. “We are really close on what this water sewer surplus is,” Nathan said. He cited anticipated depreciation increases (about $200,000) and an expected near‑$90,000 contract increase for the Viola contract as principal drivers of higher expenses.

Nathan reviewed revenue assumptions. He reduced projected interest earnings because market rates slipped from the prior year; interest income for the utility was about $738,000 in 2023–24, and was already down by roughly $200,000 in the current year, he said. He also noted unusual high summer usage last year (a drought period) inflated FY24 water sales and he did not assume the same level of consumption for the coming year.

Staff identified roughly $1.6 million in capital projects budgeted for next year (including pump‑station work discussed elsewhere in the meeting). Because state rules prohibit persistent deficits in utility enterprise funds, Nathan said the city must plan to avoid a deficit. “The first year, they’re going to give us a nasty gram and tell us how to fix it,” he said of the state comptroller’s oversight; “the second year, if you do it 2 years in a row, they’re going to come in and fix it for you,” he added.

Given those pressures, staff discussed two possible approaches: modest annual increases in line with state recommendations (roughly 2.5–3% per year) or a larger one‑time increase to rebuild reserves. Nathan said a 10% increase would provide more cushion and estimated impacts for typical residential customers: a minimal in‑city user billed for 2,000 gallons each for water and sewer would see about a $2.78 monthly increase; a heavier user (example: 9,000 gallons) might see roughly a $5 monthly increase.

City staff also explained accounting treatment for ARPA‑funded projects. Even when ARPA reimbursements are expected or received, the projects create depreciation expense on city books. Nathan noted that although the city has received ARPA reimbursements, “I can’t count that to cover our expenses” for planning because depreciation must be recorded and reduces the reported surplus.

Council asked about timing and implementation. Staff recommended any rate changes be adopted with the final budget and go into effect at the start of the fiscal year on July 1 so the utility does not change mid‑year. The council scheduled a special additional meeting for a final budget/reading and to consider rates (the council set a special meeting for June 24 at noon). Nathan said implementation of a rate change would follow the normal resolution process rather than an ordinance amendment.

Ending: City staff advised the council to consider a 10% increase as an option and promised more refined revenue and expense projections at the upcoming final budget meeting. Council members requested additional detail and asked staff to return with final recommended rates at the June final budget reading.","City finance staff presented the draft budget and said depreciation on ARPA-funded capital projects and falling interest income have reduced the water/sewer fund surplus to about $12,000; staff recommended considering a rate increase (staff discussed 10%) to avoid state intervention if deficits occur.","actionData","errors"]

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Crossville considers city-run ambulance service after residents and medical director press need; council to vote next week

Crossville finance director warns water/sewer fund squeezed by ARPA depreciation; staff floats possible 10% rate increase