BUCYRUS―The focus of the first meeting of 2020 for the Central Joint Ambulance District (CJAD) board was a looming increase in the amount of subsidy that is paid each year to Portsmouth Ambulance.
According to the CJAD board president Jason Long, the district is currently paying $225,000 for year two of the contract.
“At this time, we don’t know what to expect for a subsidy for the next contract or if a levy will be needed and for how much,” Long said.
The city of Bucyrus is part of the district along with several townships and the Village of New Washington. Township members include Auburn, Bucyrus, Chatfield, Cranberry, Dallas, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Lykens, Sandusky, Vernon and Whetstone townships.
Tod Township left the district when the zero-subsidy agreement with Life Support Team Ambulance Service ended and no companies submitted bids that did not include a subsidy.
Casey Bish, who recently took over as the staff manager of Portsmouth Ambulance when Natalie Lyons (Otto) stepped down, said that Tod Township requested assistance from the company on three runs in the past month. Bucyrus city officials and city council have considered leaving the district several times and having the Bucyrus Fire Department take over emergency medical services but has not made a final decision since staying in the district for the current contract.
Bish said the ambulance company is losing about $25,000 per month in the district.
“In December, we billed $86,319 but have only received $304.79 in payments,” said Bish. “November wasn’t much better.”
Bish said Portsmouth provides three 911 ambulances to the district and has two other trucks available for transports and 911 when needed.
Several board members discussed the possibility of putting a levy on the ballot for taxpayers to decide upon to help offset the cost of an increased subsidy if needed.
The next meeting of the CJAD will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 19 in the lower level conference room at the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office. The public is welcome to attend.