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Virginia council debates outsourcing ambulance service, motion to seek RFPs fails
Summary
After hours of public testimony and council debate over rising costs, Medicare reimbursement shortfalls and regional cost-sharing, the Virginia City Council voted down a proposal to solicit RFPs for ambulance service, leaving current ALS service in place while directing staff to explore regional options.
The Virginia City Council rejected a motion on June 23 to seek requests for proposals (RFPs) for ambulance services after a lengthy public forum and council debate.
The motion to solicit RFPs, moved by a council member, did not receive majority support in a roll-call vote. When the clerk read the tally, the mayor announced, “No RFP will be sent out for ambulance services at this time.”
Why it mattered: Residents and business owners packed the council chamber to urge the council to maintain local police, fire and EMS services. Speakers from labor unions and downtown business groups warned that outsourcing could increase response times and raise insurance costs for homeowners and merchants. Several council members said an RFP would be premature without clearer data on costs, shared funding options and the service levels any vendor would be asked to provide.
What council debated: Councillors and staff cited a mix of financial and operational concerns: - Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements for ambulance runs are low — staff reported Medicare reimburses about "37 cents on the dollar" and that roughly 78% of runs involve Medicare/Medicaid patients. That shortfall contributes to out-of-pocket costs for the city. - The city’s tax base is shrinking and staff said Virginia is unusual in the state for having a full-time ambulance and fire department at its population size. Several council members said they want to explore shared-services or taxing-district models with neighboring jurisdictions rather than immediately issuing an RFP.
Quotes and exchanges: Jan Makowski of Friends of Virginia Public Safety, addressing the council, said, “We hope that the decision is made to keep the services as they are.” Insurance specialist Jean Blevens warned residents that a downgrade in fire protection class could double homeowner premiums. Staff noted the difficulty private ambulance companies have operating profitably in rural areas.
What happens next: The council did not authorize an RFP. Several councilors asked staff to convert call-volume data into dollar amounts and to pursue talks with neighboring communities about fair‑share funding. The item may return after staff and council review the cost models and options for regional cooperation.
The vote: The RFP motion failed on a roll call; the clerk recorded the votes and the mayor declared the motion did not pass.
