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County faces growing ambulance cost gap; hospital and commissioners to develop phased plan
Summary
Saint Joseph-affiliated management told commissioners Grimes County EMS is losing about $1 million annually on four ambulances; county and hospital leaders discussed replacing aging ambulances, ownership models and phased purchasing to avoid a sudden large budget hit.
A hospital-affiliated representative briefed the court on the financial state of county emergency medical services and urged the court to plan for ambulance replacements and possible operational subsidies.
The presenter said the county's four ambulances are running at a loss of roughly $1 million a year in total operating costs, a shortfall largely tied to staffing, operations and maintenance vs. billing revenue. He said typical ambulance operating revenue covers about half of the operational cost and that the county will need a sustainable ownership and replacement model for vehicles and to address staffing and response coverage as the county grows.
As an ownership option, the presenter described how nearby Burleson County Hospital District owns ambulances and contracts management; that arrangement keeps vehicles newer and availability higher. The presenter said Burleson (about 18,000 residents) runs three ambulances and rarely runs out of units because the hospital district subsidizes the service.
Commissioners discussed pacing of vehicle purchases and operational cost planning: one commissioner recommended a phased purchase schedule (for example one or two ambulances per year or a slower multi-year buy) rather than an aggressive two-year buy of multiple new vehicles, to spread capital and operating impacts. Commissioners also emphasized that any county-owned ambulances should be housed in covered facilities and maintained under a regular maintenance program.
County and hospital staff said they will return with detailed, alternative timelines and cost projections to present options for the upcoming budget process. The court did not take immediate financial action at the meeting.
