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Hampshire County considers levy as HCSA reports $200,000 revenue shortfall; commission authorizes p-card and six-month monitoring
Summary
Hampshire County’s emergency services board told commissioners it faces about a $200,000 drop in projected billing revenue and is operating with reduced coverage; the commission authorized an operations purchase card for HCSA, agreed to monthly monitoring and discussed placing a levy on the November ballot for voter consideration.
Hampshire County commissioners on Monday heard a detailed briefing from HCSA leadership showing a recent downward revision in billing rolls that cut expected fee revenue by roughly $200,000, and discussed options including service reductions, a levy and short-term monitoring to stabilize operations. Cole, HCSA’s director, told the commission HCSA “operates with 2 24/7 trucks and a 24/7 chase paramedic” and runs a third truck to Springfield about 3½ days per week to match seasonal demand.
The commission adopted an order allowing HCSA to use an operations p-card — a purchase card intended to speed vendor payments and reduce manual invoice processing — after auditors and staff described reconciliation and accountability procedures. Commissioner Mance, who led the finance presentation, said the p-card approach ‘‘should knock down 90-something percent of the invoices that we have to process right now’’ and argued the change would reduce workload at the clerk’s office while providing timely visibility into spending.
Why it matters: HCSA provides the county’s primary emergency medical coverage across a sparsely populated, 640-square-mile jurisdiction. The briefing showed the county’s current assessed revenue for EMS at about $1.97 million under an 85% collection assumption — roughly $210,000 below earlier projections — and that operating full 7-day, 24/7 coverage would widen the gap by roughly $300,000–$400,000. Commissioners said the shortfall leaves limited, politically acceptable options: hold fees steady and accept reduced coverage, ask taxpayers to approve a levy, or find efficiencies.
HCSA board representatives asked the commission for a six-month monitoring period at the current service level so the agency can continue the stability it has built while presenting monthly reports with payroll and overtime details, response-time metrics and expenditures. Cole and advisory-board members said they would provide monthly or biweekly financial updates and suggested public outreach if commissioners decide to pursue a levy that would appear on the ballot this November if timed correctly.
Commissioner Englanger (first reference: Commissioner Englanger) said he opposed immediate fee increases and urged the county to ‘‘show the public what we can do with the money we actually get’’ before asking residents for more. Commissioners discussed timing: placing a levy question on a general ballot requires a narrow filing window in late July/August for a November election. Commissioner Mance said setting a levy at the county’s current full-fee level would close most of the coverage gap if residents paid the amounts they are already billed.
Formal action: The commission voted to adopt the order authorizing p-card operations for HCSA (voice vote, motion passed). They also agreed to accept monthly reporting from HCSA and discuss next steps — including public education and a possible levy — after the six-month monitoring period.
What’s next: HCSA will provide regular financial and operational reports; commissioners signaled willingness to consider a ballot measure if the advisory board and county staff present a clear levy proposal and public-education plan. HCSA also described internal cost-saving proposals and said it will return with more numbers and options at future meetings.
