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Resident presses council for legal and enforcement clarity on LifeRide ambulance fee
Summary
A resident asked whether the city's LifeRide ambulance charge is a fee or a tax under Article 2, Section 37 of the Oklahoma Constitution, how it is imposed, and whether nonpayment can result in utility disconnection; council said it could not answer during public comment and will follow up in writing.
Keith Hayes used the citizens-opportunity portion of the meeting to seek factual and legal clarity about the city's LifeRide ambulance-fee program.
Hayes said he had previously raised concerns "under article 2 section 37 of [the] Oklahoma constitution" and asked whether the city’s official position is that LifeRide is a service or fee rather than a tax, how the monthly charge is applied to utility customers, and whether nonpayment could result in water disconnection. "That fee is charged whether or not a resident ever uses the ambulance or EMS service," Hayes said, and he noted that the city’s fact sheet explains the monthly utility charge.
Council members said they could not take action on the matter during public comment and asked Hayes to submit the remaining questions in writing; staff and councilors said they would provide follow-up information. Councilors also pointed to a prior work study and previous budget discussions about the fee and said the LifeRide charge has been in place about three years.
The city did not provide a formal legal ruling during the meeting; the council indicated staff and the city attorney would review Hayes’s questions and respond in writing.
