Carlin approves ambulance rate increases and adopts consolidated public safety fee schedule

The Carlin City Council on Aug. 27 unanimously approved new ambulance rates proposed by the Carlin Volunteer Fire Department and adopted Resolution 2025-13, which consolidates updated fees for police, fire and ambulance services.

Fire Department representative Linda Bingaman told the council the department had not raised ambulance rates since 2010 and submitted a rate study; she proposed raising the Basic Life Support (BLS) emergency rate to $1,000 (from $750), Advanced Life Support (ALS 1) to $1,250 (from $750), and the loaded mileage rate to $30 per mile (from $15). She said the department billed uninsured patients the full amount but accepted Medicare payments as settlement for eligible seniors. The council also adopted a broader fee schedule in Resolution 2025-13; Vice Mayor Cameron Kinney summarized several items from the resolution including a $600 base fee for vehicle extrication with $50 per man-hour after the first hour, $0.50 per page for police reports, $10 for police photo/video DVDs, animal-control fees (pickup $30; surrender $75), a cat-trap rental deposit of $25 plus $2 per day (14-day maximum), a $75 prostitute work card, and $10 for fingerprinting. City Attorney Lauren Landa said municipal fee-setting was authorized by a newer state statute and that council approval should come before state EMS review for ambulance rates. The council voted unanimously to approve the rate changes and to adopt the resolution.