Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ems Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Roane County commissioners approve short-term transfer to shore up ambulance fund after lengthy debate
Summary
After an extended debate over falling call volumes and low reimbursement rates, Roane County commissioners approved transferring capital funds into the county ambulance fund to sustain service; commissioners did not rule out future property-tax support or service cuts if trends persist.
Roane County commissioners voted to move capital monies into the county’s ambulance fund following a prolonged discussion about declining call volumes and reimbursement rates that staff said have left the service operating with limited cash.
The motion, presented as a budget amendment to reflect changes in revenue and expenditures for the ambulance fund, passed by unanimous voice vote. County officials and commissioners said the transfer is intended to “get us over the hump” while staff continue to monitor operations and seek longer-term fixes.
Budget and staff presentations during the meeting described a steep drop in ambulance call volume and lower Medicare/Medicaid reimbursements. “Our cash on hand, today, was a 103,000 with the trustee,” a commissioner reported during the debate, and staff warned that continuing declines would force tough choices about service levels and funding sources.
Commissioners discussed alternatives including raising user rates, increasing property-tax support, cutting ambulance days/hours or trucks, or contracting with private providers. Several members emphasized life-safety risks of reducing coverage and said the committee’s current approach — transferring available capital funds and continually monitoring operations — was prudent for now.
County staff and the county executive’s office said they are pursuing multiple lines of effort: stricter expenditure review, exploring reimbursement-rate changes at the legislative level, and programmatic efficiencies at the local level. The budget director said staff review every expenditure and are “as lean and efficient as we possibly can.”
The commission asked staff to return with further analysis and options if the transfer does not stabilize the fund. The motion carried 15-0.
Next steps: County staff will continue to monitor cash flow and call-volume data and report back to the budget committee; commissioners flagged legislative advocacy on reimbursement rates as a longer-term priority.
