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County’s rural hospital tax expected to cover Bicknell ambulance costs; council approves bills
Summary
Council reviewed county action on a new rural hospital tax that directs 2% of proceeds to towns (intended to cover ambulance costs) and discussed a small ambulance fee increase; the council also approved paying town bills and adjourned.
At the March 5 meeting, the chair summarized a new county rural hospital tax and how revenues are allocated: 18% to EMS, 18% to the fire district, 18% to search and rescue, 18% to the landfill, and 2% shared among several towns (Bicknell, Loa, Lyman, Torrey, Hanksville) to support ambulance services. A town official said the 2% should generally cover Bicknell’s ambulance calls.
The council discussed a recent notice that ambulance fees per call would increase (the transcript records an increase from $181 to $185 per call). Members debated whether the 2% allocation provides adequate local support and whether the town should press the county for a larger share, but the consensus was that the new tax should reduce the town’s ambulance burden.
On routine business, the council reviewed the bills and, following a motion and second, voted to pay them. The meeting concluded with the chair adjourning the session.
What’s next: council members will monitor county disbursements tied to the rural hospital tax and assess whether additional requests to the county are warranted; staff will process the payment of bills as approved at the meeting.
