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Commissioners weigh adding ambulance, city cost-share as Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical budget shrinks
Summary
Douglas County commissioners discussed three LDCFM funding options—gray (included in proposed budget), blue-gray (40‑hour ambulance) and blue (24/7 ambulance linked to Station 6 expansion). Staff and commissioners differed on risk, precedent and timing; staff will provide financial deltas and impacts tied to possible City of Lawrence actions.
Douglas County commissioners reviewed alternatives for Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical (LDCFM) funding during July 11 budget deliberations, focusing on whether the county should add ambulance capacity now while the City of Lawrence pursues a substantial budget reduction. The commission did not take a vote; staff were asked to provide numerical deltas and analyses for commissioners’ worksheets.
The options shown to the commission were described as: the gray option (the base proposed budget), a blue-gray option that adds a 40‑hour-per-week ambulance, and a blue option that funds a 24/7 ambulance associated with a future Station 6 expansion. Staff placed a “gray” option in the proposed county budget to preserve existing service levels but said it would shift a greater share of shared LDCFM expense onto the county.
Staff numbers and city context Sarah and Jake, county staff who presented the options, told the commission the three alternatives change the county’s…
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