Bonner County EMS reviews cash position and forecast; board discusses levy timing and staffing implications

Bonner County Ambulance Service District staff presented an updated cash position and budget forecast, reporting stronger recent billing revenue and cautioning that full operating costs will rise as the district begins paying more services directly.

The clerk and district staff reported a cash position of about $1,553,006.28 on the Monday before the meeting and described recent weekly revenue of roughly $50,000–$110,000 in two-week stretches tied to billing. Staff noted the extension of a "super rural" billing designation through September, which preserves a higher reimbursement rate (described in the meeting as about a 22% higher rate) and that the designation may be reevaluated later.

District leadership and commissioners cautioned that projected year-end cash positions are a moving target and that recognizing previously unaccounted county-absorbed costs (for example, outsourced services as the district separates from county operations) will reduce cash available once those costs are paid directly by the district. One commissioner said bringing in outside counsel was part of the shift toward recognizing full operating costs.

County Clerk Mike Rosedale reminded the district that the deadline for considering a levy override is the end of the month; the district indicated it had decided not to run a levy override in the current budget cycle. Members of the public urged more explicit labeling on forecast documents (clearly marking projections versus current cash) and recommended multi-year forecasts (year 1, year 3, year 5) to show trends and staffing implications.

There was no formal board action to change the budget or levy during the meeting; commissioners directed staff to continue weekly cash tracking, provide clearer forecast labels, and work toward multi-year projections as the district refines its expense estimates.