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Trustees debate township role in ambulance funding amid concerns about 'double dipping'
Summary
Walnut Township trustees debated whether township funds should support the ambulance during the Oct. 7 meeting; some trustees urged support because the ambulance serves the township, while others raised concerns about overlapping town and county charges and unclear billing revenue.
Trustees at Walnut Township’s Oct. 7 meeting discussed whether township funds should be used to support the ambulance that serves the community, a topic that drew differing views from board members.
Kyle Mar, a Walnut Township trustee, reviewed recent fire/EMS spending and said the first contract installment allocated about $4,262 toward extrication equipment and that the department also purchased a lifting device for $647. Kyle reported the ambulance had an intercooler issue and the repair figure is recorded in the transcript as '94240,' which the board did not clarify during the meeting.
One trustee urged the board to continue supporting the ambulance because the vehicle displays 'Walnut Township Ambulance' and serves local residents. That trustee said they value having an ambulance locally and cited recent coverage during a community race where the ambulance provided 24-hour shifts. Other trustees questioned whether additional township funding would cause residents to be "double dipped" because they already pay countywide taxes that fund county EMS services.
Board members discussed ambulance billing mechanics: the meeting record references a base billing rate for basic life support (BLS) runs in the range of $650–$750 and noted payments from billing companies may arrive with delay; trustees said some ambulance costs may be reimbursed through billing revenue. Several trustees emphasized that if the township contributes funds, those dollars would reduce town budgeting for other items rather than add a new tax.
No formal vote was recorded specifically to change ambulance funding in the meeting minutes; trustees agreed to keep the conversation open and clarified that if the township extends support, it can be structured so funds are accessible for equipment, repairs, or other needs. The transcript does not provide a final decision on ongoing township contributions to the ambulance.
Why it matters: decisions about whether a township contributes to ambulance operations affect local emergency coverage, budget priorities and how residents’ tax dollars are allocated. The discussion highlighted tensions between local service expectations and concerns about overlapping town and county funding.
