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“Ambulance Utility”
(Previously called “EMS Utility.”) No fee was set last night. Garland French expects it to be around $3 per month.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 8:26 am and is filed under North Coast News.
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Jimm, surprise, unless you are one of the exempt individuals or entities, you get to pay both. If they are exempt entities, then maybe the B&O taxes should be higher to support the portion of the General Fund that pays into Police, Fire and EMS services. That would make it a cost of doing business for them. They should not increase their bottom line on the backs of all the citizens that are not exempt. Medicare and Medicaid do not pay enough to support the program. Therefore, they need to contribute in alternative fees to offset the demand they place on the program.
Since I am going to pay a monthly utility tax for ambulance service they better not bill me if I call on them for service.
Citizens voted “NO” on the EMS tax levy -which is also a “NO” on an “Ambulance Utility”. If the City truly wants to balance the budget – they could start by selling the surplus properties and put those parcels back on the tax rolls to help generate the funds needed to operate the City and meet its financial obligations. The City Council seems to have the attitude that there is a money tree growing in Ocean Shores and when funds run out (for any reason including missed calculations by department heads who still stay employed by the City)- they can just tax (pick money off the tree) the people more. As a citizen of Ocean Shores it is difficult to be part of the solution, when City Council members ignore the pleas of the citizens that they are supposed to represent. Maybe, just maybe if City Council listened more to the people that voted them into office as a Council member – the people would be willing to make some compromises to help solve the issues. An “Ambulance Utility” crammed down their throats is a slap in the face by City Council. The citizens have asked over and over again for Council to stop their irresponsible spending of funds that the City does not have collected and banked.
Really?!? I can’t believe that “our council” did not listen to the people on this vote, oh that’s right we are in Ocean Shores where “our council” does what IT wants to and make the people pay! Maybe the ambulance fees can be collected at time of service like the 70’s movie “Mother, Jugs & Speed”.
Place the rubber tourniquet around the arm. Tighten. Then heat the liquid in the spoon. Inject. Ah, the addiction continues. This will generate about $180,000 dollars a year. Oh, you say it is for one year. Let’s watch and see. Maybe we should take a hint from Montesano and Fire District #2. Maybe we should look at this as an option. Think, we could have a larger tax base to support the service and have the utility cover a larger geographic area too.
Oh, you ask about an EMS Levy. Well that is just around the corner too. You know that it is supported by the “citizen group” that was formed to “solve” the revenue issue.
The NCN stated that the EMS service is one of the largest revenue sources in the city. Well, that reminds me of the old business saying: Lose on every one and make it up in volume. The bottom line of the department is negative without support by a levy, utility fee and general fund money. It does not support itself from fees charged for services.
It will never be able to do that because Medicare, Medicaid and insurance companies pay only the “reasonable and customary” fee for services or a prescribed amount in their fee structure.