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Select Board reviews ambulance-service survey; staff says findings are preliminary
Summary
Board members reviewed a student-led Berkshire ambulance survey and discussed whether funding or cost allocations should be based on population or call volume; staff emphasized the survey is preliminary and not binding.
The Select Board discussed a preliminary survey of Berkshire-area ambulance services and potential models for funding or cost-sharing.
Staff (speaker 3) described the survey as an early-stage effort and said responders reported that about 40% of ambulance revenue comes from transports: “The numbers that they tell us where they fill out, they get about 40%... most of the money comes from transports, hospital to hospital,” he said. Board members discussed whether a future cost structure should be based on population, number of calls, or a combination of both and noted that variability in call volume could make a call-based model uneven year to year.
Members agreed the survey could be completed by the student and used for information only; staff recommended submitting population figures if the board wants initial data included. The board discussed revisiting the issue after six months and including more boards to assess regional impacts.
