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Commission reviews plan for second city ambulance funded by fire impact fees
Summary
City staff pitched adding a second, city‑operated EMS transport unit (9 new positions plus one EMS chief) funded with fire impact fees; staff said the unit could be revenue‑positive under realistic collection assumptions, and commissioners asked staff to explore a Certificate of Public Need and billing options with Volusia County.
The New Smyrna Beach City Commission on Aug. 7 heard a proposal to add a second city‑operated EMS transport unit staffed 24/7 and funded primarily with fire impact fees, not by increasing the city’s millage.
Fire Department leaders said the city handled 3,093 transports inside the city limits in the latest year and that adding a second transport based at Station 52 (beachside) would improve response capacity. The department asked for nine additional firefighters to staff the unit and one EMS chief to manage the program. “We proposed adding 9 additional personnel, for the 2nd EMS transport unit,” the fire department said during its presentation.
Staff told commissioners that the capital cost for the ambulances would be paid from impact fees and would not affect property tax millage, while reduced overtime in operations was included in the plan to offset personnel costs. Officials presented operating scenarios showing the program could run near break‑even at lower collection rates and produce net revenue if collection/performance targets are met. As one staff presenter summarized the modeled outcomes, an 85% collection/run rate would show a small shortfall while 90% or higher would push the program into positive revenue.
Commissioners pressed staff on two policy questions: whether the city should pursue a Certificate of Public Need to gain more control and data from the county system, and whether the city should continue having the county do transport billing or contract out billing themselves. Staff said a Certificate of Public Need would give the city more operational control (including the option to choose its medical director and reporting software) but would require negotiations with Volusia County and possible procurement of a billing vendor. “It allows the locality a little more control,” staff said of a certificate, while also noting many neighboring cities continue to use the county’s system.
The commission requested follow‑up information on the certificate of need process, timeline and costs, the realistic billing collection assumptions used in the financial model, and the staffing/onboarding schedule if the commission authorizes the unit. No formal vote was taken at the workshop; staff will bring back details for future consideration.
