Manchester Fire Department cleared to buy used ambulance; county approves EMS-LIT appropriation

Commissioners approved an appropriation to support Manchester Fire Department's purchase of a replacement ambulance, after department leaders told the board their existing unit was failing and backup coverage relied on a 1998 vehicle with heavy mileage. Manchester Fire Chief Kevin Havlin told the commissioners his department had identified a suitable Horton ambulance that met off-road and four-wheel-drive requirements for rural calls. The vehicle was available immediately from a dealer; the department placed a $45,000 deposit to secure it. Havlin said ambulance manufacturer lead times for new units are commonly two-plus years, so the used Horton would allow them to field a modern, fully equipped unit now. He said the department will use billing revenue for part of the purchase and pay for a cot lift and new cot from department funds. Jason Sullivan, the EMS director for the local alliance, said Manchester has reached 100 percent response in recent months and praised use of EMS LIT funding to upgrade local emergency medical services. Commissioners and other speakers acknowledged the county's EMS LIT (local income tax dedicated to EMS/public safety) as the source for the appropriation. The motion to approve the appropriation from the EMS local income tax was made and seconded during the meeting; commissioners voted in favor. The department said it had a buyer for its oldest unit and expected to put the newly purchased vehicle into service promptly upon delivery. Why this matters: The ambulance purchase addresses equipment reliability and rural response needs. Commissioners highlighted that EMS LIT distributions have funded system-level improvements countywide and supported smaller departments shifting from basic to advanced life support capabilities.