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Budget committee skeptical of large JRMA ambulance funding request; suggests split between budget and warrant article
Summary
JRMA Captain Bill Johnson told the Budget Committee that ambulance staffing losses and underpayment of calls created a deficit; the committee tentatively approved $85,000 for JRMA and recommended a $40,000 warrant article to cover the remainder while seeking a longer-term solution.
JRMA Captain Bill Johnson attended the Jan. 11 Budget Committee meeting to explain a substantial increase in the ambulance-service request, saying JRMA has lost personnel to county services and cannot pay competitive salaries. He told the committee that increasing salaries and unpaid or underpaid ambulance calls have pushed the service toward a deficit.
Johnson presented alternative costs the town would face if it contracted ambulance service elsewhere: $558,000 if Jaffrey contracted with Peterborough and $236,500 if contracting with the County, the latter including a 30-minute minimum response-time assumption. He also said Peterborough is currently providing ambulance coverage billed at $1,000 per event, which JRMA is covering in the short term.
Committee members expressed discomfort with the magnitude of JRMA’s request and discussed that a gradual increase would have been preferable. To balance immediate operational needs and taxpayer impact, members suggested and agreed to split the request into a general budget line of $85,000 and a $40,000 warrant article for voters to consider. The committee gave tentative approval to the $85,000 line (6-0) and asked for a more permanent solution to staffing and sustainable funding going forward.
The committee also noted that Rindge has been asked for an increase in support for JRMA. No final permanent funding decision was reached; the split approach will be presented for voter consideration at Town Meeting.
