Neosho County approves $2 million disbursement to hospital ambulance fund

The Neosho County Board of Commissioners voted 3–0 on Feb. 10 to release $2,000,000 from the ambulance sales-tax fund to the county hospital to help cover ongoing operating losses and service demand.

Hospital representatives identified as Richie and David told the commission that, despite higher revenue from insurance, Medicare and Medicaid since 2021, the ambulance operation has run a roughly $300,000 bottom-line loss in recent years and that long-distance transfers have increased significantly. "We've had a little increase in the people needing rides in Neosho County," one presenter said, and asked the commission for an "initial disbursement of 2,000,000 or 2.2" million dollars while the fund rebuilds.

The commissioners discussed account balances before the vote; the chair noted the ambulance sales-tax fund had about $2,340,072.78 at the end of December and that additional sales-tax revenue was expected. The motion as recorded directed release of $2,000,000 from account 390 (ambulance sales-tax fund) to the hospital; a commissioner seconded and the board approved the transfer by voice vote, "Motion passes 3 to 0." The presenters said they would return later in the year with interim progress reporting and updated operational statistics.

Why it matters: County-backed disbursements from dedicated sales-tax funds are intended to stabilize essential emergency medical services and ensure bond covenant metrics, such as days of cash on hand and debt-service coverage ratios, are met. Hospital representatives emphasized that the requested funding is intended to maintain service capacity as transfers and call volume increase.

Votes at a glance: The meeting recorded multiple formal actions. Among them, commissioners approved the $2,000,000 release to the hospital (motion carried 3–0), approved the accounts-payable and payroll items presented in the consent agenda (motion carried), and approved a $49.75 payoff and closure of a former county-attorney credit card (motion carried). The meeting minutes record these outcomes but do not list individual commissioners’ names in each tally.

What's next: Hospital officials said they will provide an interim report later in the year on fund balances and efforts to reduce operating losses. The commission left open the possibility of additional requests later in the year as the fund rebuilds.