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Columbia County committee backs new Gold Cross EMS contract, adds ambulance amid near-$500,000 first-year increase
Summary
The Community Emergency Services Committee approved a multi-year contract with Gold Cross EMS totaling $2.35 million for the coming year, adding a 12-hour basic life-support ambulance; staff said the county supplement rises by just under $500,000 in year one but resident billing caps will not change.
The Columbia County Community Emergency Services Committee approved a multi-year contract with Gold Cross EMS that staff said costs $2,350,000 for the base year and includes renewals for four additional terms. County officials told the committee the agreement adds a 12-hour basic-life-support ambulance and reflects a near-$500,000 increase in the county supplement for the first year.
County Manager said staff recommended approval, explaining the contract maintains the current maximums Gold Cross may bill residents and that the county had budgeted the amount in its FY27 plan. The manager said officials compared the proposal with neighboring counties and benchmark jurisdictions and concluded the county is still paying less than many peers for the level of service being provided.
Chief Whalen, who the county identified as the fire/EMS chief, confirmed the first-year supplement increase is "just under $500,000" and described ongoing oversight: the county and Gold Cross review response times and other key performance indicators for every call and hold regular meetings to address performance concerns. The committee was told past problems with availability have decreased and that the additional ambulance will help reduce occurrences of "status zero" (no available ambulances).
Committee members asked whether the change would raise charges to patients; the manager and Chief Whalen both said it would not. County staff noted the contract sets billing caps for patients for the term of the contract and renewal periods, and that those caps are unchanged from the previous agreement.
Committee discussion also revisited an earlier analysis of whether the county should provide ambulance services directly. Officials said a prior estimate placed startup costs for an in-house EMS operation at roughly $14–15 million and that, after review, the county continues to judge a contracted model as the more fiscally responsible option at present. Officials said they will continue to monitor costs, performance metrics and the option of in-house provision going forward.
The committee moved the contract on the consent calendar and approved it without a recorded roll-call tally in the transcript.
The next procedural step is implementation under the new contract term beginning July 1; County staff said they will continue monthly oversight meetings with Gold Cross and report back to the committee as needed.
