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Tequesta moves to raise EMS transport fees, authorizes large write-offs and signals continued use of third-party collections
Summary
Council gave first reading to CPI‑linked EMS fee adjustments intended to smooth future increases, approved a resolution writing off older uncollectible EMS accounts from 2021–2023, and directed staff to return with additional financial detail before the second reading.
The Village of Tequesta considered several interrelated fire-rescue finance items on July 16: a request to change the effective date for annual fee adjustments, a first reading of an ordinance to link EMS transport fees to CPI indices, and a resolution authorizing write-offs of older uncollectible EMS transport accounts.
Fire rescue leadership told council that operating costs for EMS runs substantially exceed current billed rates; the chief described a conservative per-call cost estimate and said last year’s large, one-time fee increase was intended to narrow the gap. To avoid future large, sudden hikes, staff proposed indexing fee adjustments to two CPI measures and aligning the effective date with the fiscal year (Oct. 1). The chief said the proposed incremental increases would be modest (roughly $26–$32 across the main transport categories) and that Medicare and most supplemental insurance arrangements would insulate roughly 60–70% of residents from out-of-pocket changes; self-pay and uninsured residents would see the largest direct impacts.
Council approved moving the effective date to Oct. 1 and advanced the ordinance on first reading while requesting additional data for second reading, including clearer information on total cost recovery and how property-tax support and general-fund allocations factor into the department’s budget picture.
Separately, staff asked council to approve a write-off resolution for older EMS accounts dating from 2021–2023 (and some early 2024 accounts) that were tied to prior internal billing problems and turnover. Staff said switching to a professional third-party collections vendor (EMSMC) in 2024 materially improved collections; the write-off is for record-keeping and accounts management and is not a forgiveness program. Council approved the write-off motion and the chief said future write-offs should be substantially smaller because of the third-party collection process.
Council members asked for details on collection practices (payment plans and treatment of low‑income or uninsured residents) and sought the total-dollar linkage between property-tax revenues and EMS operating costs for context; staff committed to providing that information at second reading.
No final fee schedule was enacted at first reading; council asked for follow-up data and scheduled a second reading where the specific rates and implementation steps will be finalized.
