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Pendleton County confronts EMS spending deadline as monitors remain unpaid; House Bill 5168 may add state funds
Summary
The commission discussed that $90,909.09 from the EMS Equipment Fund must be spent by June 30, 2026; heart monitors purchased in December 2024 cost $358,332 and are still being paid for. A state House bill could provide roughly $118,000, according to a county speaker.
Commissioners discussed a time-sensitive issue in EMS funding: $90,909.09 held in the EMS Equipment Fund (received in November) must be spent by June 30, 2026, county officials said. The funds had been earmarked for a new ambulance, but project delays mean they cannot be used for that purpose.
County staff reported that heart monitors purchased in December 2024 cost $358,332 and that the county is still paying on those monitors. County Clerk Elise White said she will contact Joseph Ratlief, Director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services, to determine whether the EMS Equipment Fund dollars qualify for alternative uses.
Separately, attendee Mike Alt reported that House Bill 5168 was signed by the Governor and said the county "may receive around $118,000 for EMS," noting that the ultimate amount will depend on how state formulas are applied.
County staff did not provide a final allocation figure at the meeting; they identified a near-term spending deadline and a follow-up step to seek clarification from the state EMS office.
