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Central Fire seeks county placeholder funding and to launch ambulance‑district effort amid rising call volume
Summary
Central Fire officials told commissioners rising EMS calls and operational costs require county support (about $300,000 placeholder) while the district prepares signatures for a voter‑approved ambulance district and transitions toward ALS service.
Representatives from Central Fire presented a financial and operational briefing on July 22, asking the Board of Commissioners to include a placeholder amount in county planning and to authorize the district to pursue a voter‑approved ambulance district.
Jared, Central Fire’s EMS representative, told commissioners the district’s call volume and operating costs have increased markedly and that billing recovery covers only a portion of costs. He said Central Fire has been absorbing an increasing share of area ambulance responses and that contracting with a neighboring provider had become more expensive. “We’ve taken right at 50% of their calls,” Jared said, describing increased usage and the need for a sustainable local EMS model.
Central Fire requested a placeholder county contribution of roughly $300,000 to sustain day‑to‑day operations while the department pursues structural solutions. The district plans to gather petition signatures and present a ballot measure to create a dedicated ambulance district, which would require a supermajority vote to approve. Commissioners agreed to allow the district to proceed with signature gathering and asked staff to include a placeholder funding line while the district develops detailed cost estimates and the public outreach plan.
District leaders said the long‑term goal is to establish two ambulances with Advanced Life Support (ALS) staffing to reduce reliance on external providers; commissioners were told an ambulance district (if approved by voters) would take months to produce revenue and staffing changes would phase in after a successful vote and implementation.
The board did not commit to a final appropriation but directed staff to include the placeholder figure in budget planning and to work with Central Fire on next steps and ballot timing.
