Board reallocates unused ambulance funds to buy replacement response SUV for emergency medical service

The Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors on July 2 approved reappropriating $155,270.02 from the current fiscal year ambulance budget to purchase a replacement advanced‑life‑support (ALS) response vehicle and a replacement vehicle for the fire‑rescue chief.

County staff said the ALS response SUV (ALS‑1) has become unreliable after repeated repairs. Chief Morris (identified in the meeting as a fire‑rescue official) told the board the vehicle has persistent suspension and reliability issues that have made it unsafe and costly to operate; the county has spent more than $8,200 on repairs since September 2024. Staff said vehicle trade‑in or resale values are very low relative to replacement costs.

“I’ve driven that vehicle. It’s not safe,” said a member of the fluvanna fire‑rescue leadership during the meeting. County staff said the remaining ambulance‑purchase balance from FY25 totaled about $155,270, and a motion was passed to reallocate those funds to purchase a response vehicle for EMS; the board also discussed waiting to finalize specs for the chief’s vehicle until a new chief is in place so that the vehicle can be fitted with the interior equipment that official prefers.

Supervisor Sheridan moved to reappropriate the remaining funds from the ambulance purchase line to acquire the response SUV; the motion passed unanimously. County staff said the purchase would proceed through procurement rules and that specific vehicle specifications would be confirmed with fire‑rescue leadership before ordering.

The decision follows the department borrowing a utility vehicle from a neighboring station on short notice to maintain ALS coverage when the ALS‑1 vehicle was out of service.

Provenance: Board discussion and motions during July 2 meeting regarding reappropriation of ambulance budget funds.