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Castle Rock ambulance service reports steady demand, subsidy plan and plans for $3.5–$4M ambulance barn
Summary
Castle Rock Hospital District ambulance leaders reported continuing high call volumes, staffing shortages driving overtime costs, an expected subsidy request near $1.55 million and plans to build a new 8,000-square-foot ambulance barn estimated at $3.5–$4 million.
Representatives of the Castle Rock Hospital District’s ambulance service updated Sweetwater County commissioners on June 3 about operational demand, finances and a planned new ambulance barn.
A service representative said falls are the single largest call category and showed maps and run-zone breakdowns to illustrate where crews respond. She said the service has been busy since the last update and noted ongoing staffing turnover led to increased overtime.
"We have people that are on military leave, people that have left for various personal reasons, and so you'll see that our overtime is still fairly high," the presenter said, adding the service has been able to hire Basic Life Support staff and run recent EMT classes.
Financial staff reported the contracted subsidy arrangement allows for a maximum county subsidy of $1.8 million. "Last year, we requested $1,600,000 and then we ended up submitting vouchers for $1,477,000," the finance representative said. "This year, we're requesting $50,000 less than last year, which is $1,550,000. . . . I expect an actual reduction from the max $1,800,000 of about $350,000 is my best estimate at this time." That projection depends on year-end run and revenue totals.
The ambulance board also reported plans to break ground in about five weeks on a new ambulance facility. "At this point, we've got it's about an 8,000 square foot building with 6 bays or 6, I guess, 3 bays that are passed through for 2 ambulances each... That last estimate that we had was between 3.5 and $4,000,000," a board representative told the commission.
The district's leaders asked commissioners to continue supporting the contracted arrangement that offsets operational losses. Officials said improved central facilities and ongoing recruitment and EMT training will be priorities to reduce overtime and maintain coverage through a busy summer event season.
Commissioners accepted the update; no formal action was taken.
