Title
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Preparedness & Response, a Division of the Chief Administrative Office, recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a budget transfer increasing estimated revenues and appropriations by $355,000 in County Service Areas 3 & 7 operating funds, the ambulance billing suspense fund, and the EMS Administration fund. (4/5 vote required)
FUNDING: Ambulance service fees.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The EMS Division oversees the County's Emergency Medical System and provides for the provision of ambulance services under contract with three public agency ambulance operators. The Division's chart of accounts includes General Fund accounts, where Division staff costs are recorded along with all system-wide expenditures. Additionally, the Division includes funds within two County Service Areas (CSAs): CSA 3 provides EMS ambulance services within the Tahoe Basin region, while CSA 7 provides services to the West Slope region. Ambulance revenues and EMS taxes are deposited into their associated CSA funds. At the end of each fiscal year, the CSAs reimburse the General Fund to cover the EMS costs incurred in the General Fund portion of EMS. The CSAs bear a portion of the General Fund costs proportional to the revenues each CSA receives.
Staff are recommending that the Board approve a budget transfer amending the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget for the EMS Division. During the current fiscal year, the Division has experienced an increase in ambulance fee revenues as compared to the estimated revenues included in the Division budget.
The County contracts with an outside company to process ambulance service fee revenues, and the County pays the contractor a percentage-based commission on all revenues they collect. Due to the increase in revenues, the Division is also projecting that payments to the contractor will exceed budget. The recommended budget transfer increases appropriations for services and supplies within both CS...
Click here for full text