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Sonoma County Fire District asks board to consider CPI adjustment for ambulance contract citing millions in unanticipated costs
Summary
Steve Click of the Sonoma County Fire District asked the Board to note a contractually-allowed CPI adjustment for ambulance service in EOA 1 and said unforeseen costs — higher incumbent salaries and increased Redcom dispatch costs after AMR discontinued services — have amounted to several million dollars; county staff said any increase above 10% requires an audit and must return to the board.
Steve Click, president of the Sonoma County Fire District board, used the public comment period to urge transparency and collaboration around a contractually allowed CPI adjustment for ambulance service in Exclusive Operating Area 1. Click said the district has increased ambulance deployment and is exceeding performance arrival standards, adding that "together these increases have amounted to several million dollars" because of higher than expected salaries and increased Redcom dispatch costs after AMR discontinued dispatch services.
"We have commissioned an audit and rate study to better understand the changing cost impact," Click said, and he emphasized that the district seeks to remain a long‑term partner: "We are your partners. We are your contractor. Our only motive is to provide the best possible service to our Sonoma County residents."
Supervisor Gore asked how the board would review any proposed increase. County staff responded that automatic CPI adjustments are already built into the contract and are under departmental authority, but any contractual price change beyond the contract’s built‑in mechanisms — notably any increase above a 10% threshold — triggers a robust audit and operational study and must be returned to the board for consideration. CEO Rivera and staff said the negotiations team will work with Sonoma County Fire District on the fee study and that any resulting formal amendment would be publicly reviewed with a draft contract returned to the board.
The board did not take action on the comment; staff described the next steps as review of the Fire District’s fee study and negotiation of any formal contract amendment that exceeds the director’s delegated authority.
