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Accomack County sets ambulance billing rates and moves to buy ambulances for Painter area
Summary
Board approved FY26 ambulance rates and endorsed county purchase of two ambulances to station at Painter Volunteer Fire Department after Watchaprig signaled it would stop providing ambulance service; public commenter objected to new billing.
Accomack County supervisors voted to establish ambulance service billing rates for fiscal 2026 and approved steps to place two county-owned ambulances at Painter Volunteer Fire Department to maintain coverage in the southern portion of the county.
County Administrator Mike Mason told the board the rates mirror those used by members of the Emergency Ambulance Services Revenue Recovery Board, the regional billing consortium the county joined in April. Mason said the rate-setting is a prerequisite for the county's planned purchase and operation of ambulances; the county aims for a July 1 start so county-staffed vehicles can begin handling calls previously served by Painter and Watchaprig responders.
During public comment, Glenn Smith of 12 Market Street said he opposed the change and objected to charging for ambulance service: "I am not in favor of this. It is something new. The county currently staffs volunteer owned ambulances, and they don't charge ... County residents already pay for this service with their taxes." Smith warned that adding bills would amount to double taxation.
Board members responded that the county action is intended to fill a service gap after Watchaprig decided to discontinue ambulance operations in the southern district. One supervisor said that without county action, "there would be no service down there," and framed the county move as restoring parity with other parts of Accomack where volunteer departments already bill for ambulance runs.
Mason said the county is coordinating equipment purchases, stationing agreements with Painter Volunteer Fire Department and billing setup with the Northern Neck Planning District Commission so operations will be in place to match the July 1 effective date. He estimated the county could finalize ambulance purchases in June to meet that timeline.
The board voted to implement the proposed rates effective July 1. The motion passed by voice vote; board members did not record individual tallies on the record.
