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Board adopts higher first-responder fee to recover true costs
Summary
After a public hearing and comparison with neighboring agencies, the board adopted ordinance 2026-01-21 to raise the district’s first-responder fee from $214 toward a direct-cost figure of $383.39 per incident; the ordinance passed by roll-call vote.
The board adopted ordinance 2026-01-21, approving changes to the district’s schedule of first-responder fees after a second reading and a public hearing. Staff said the district’s direct cost to provide a first-responder engine response is $383.39 and that the existing charge of $214 “has been set well below what our actual costs are.”
During public comment residents asked how bills are issued and whether the fee applies when engines respond outside the district. Staff explained the agency uses a billing contractor, that Medicare/Medicaid waivers are applied automatically, and that the district bills for first-responder services even when its engine assists outside the district to avoid taxing the district’s residents for nonresident services. Director roll call recorded Directors Wilson, Gilchrist, Bezet, Scobie and Israel voting “Aye” and the ordinance was adopted.
