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Ely City Council raises ambulance fees, sets annual increases
Summary
The Ely City Council adopted Resolution 2025-06 on Aug. 14, 2025, raising multiple Emergency Medical Services fees effective Aug. 15 and establishing a 3.5% annual July increase; Fire Chief Pat Stork said rising supply and mileage costs drove the change while public commenters objected to the size and timing of the increases.
The Ely City Council voted unanimously Aug. 14 to raise ambulance and emergency medical service (EMS) fees, adopting Resolution 2025-06 to take effect Aug. 15, 2025. The council also approved an annual 3.5% increase on July 1 of each year going forward.
Fire Chief Pat Stork told the council the department’s costs — range of medical supplies and long-distance highway runs that incur heavy mileage — have risen substantially and the current rates were “behind the curve.” “Most of the calls we go on are out on the highways,” Stork said, explaining that mileage and supply increases have shifted more costs onto taxpayers and that raising fees will help make EMS operations more self-sustaining.
The adopted fee schedule sets new charges that include: BLS non-emergent $1,037; BLS emergent $1,187; ALS emergent Level I $1,484; ALS emergent Level II $1,779; Critical Care Transport $2,654; treatment without transport $300; transport mileage $46 per mile, and a number of supply and equipment fees. The resolution also directs the General Fund to account for EMS revenues.
During the public hearing, George Chachas criticized the increases as disproportionate, saying they ranged “anywhere from 30% to 100%” and urged adjustments tied to the CPI. “Increases need to be in line with CPI,” he said, adding that annual incremental adjustments would be preferable to large periodic increases that he said pressure taxpayers.
Councilmembers did not amend the proposal; after discussion and the public hearing they voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 2025-06.
The council recorded the action as a formal resolution; staff will implement adjusted billing and notify payors of the new rates and the annual July increase schedule.
