Haywood County officials say ambulance supply costs driving annual fund-balance appropriations

Haywood County officials said rising costs and increased use of ambulance supplies have forced the county to appropriate fund balance annually to cover those expenses, county staff said during a meeting.

County leaders described the trend as emerging since the COVID-19 pandemic and putting pressure on the county’s operating budget. Officials did not specify how much the county has appropriated in any single year or the total added cost to the budget.

An official noted the pattern and invited a staff member named Travis to explain specifics: “I'll let Travis answer specifics. This seems to be the trend the past few years, probably since COVID. We've had to annually appropriate some fund balance for for these costs. It's just due to the the rising cost of supplies and the increased usage. So Travis, anything to add?”

Travis, a county staff member, replied: “No. We're busier every year. Costs continue to grow, and, we try to conserve as much as we can. But at the end of the day, we have to keep ambulances stocked and ready to ready to go. And unfortunately, it's costing more and more money to do so.”

The exchange was descriptive: officials characterized the higher supply costs and greater usage as the reasons the county taps fund balance each year. The meeting record did not include a formal vote, an exact dollar figure, or a proposed corrective action during that discussion.

County staff indicated they are monitoring supply use and costs; no budget amendments or other decisions were recorded in these remarks.