By Libby Cluett
Mineral Wells Index
GORDON —
In the face of scaling back the county budget to help offset a deficit, Palo Pinto County Commissioners might see that it’s easier to giveth, but harder to taketh away.
Tri-City Emergency Medical Services is one of several EMS providers feeling the proposed pangs of two commissioners court budget cutbacks. A reduction next year in the county’s contributions to the county’s volunteer providers and a reduction to their vehicle insurance, namely damage, could leave some EMS providers hemorrhaging.
In the county’s proposed 2011 budget, approved Aug. 9, commissioners court opted to reduce funding for local EMS departments by $5,000 each from $15,000 (given them over the past three years) to $10,000. Overall, this results in a net reduction of $33,000, or 33.6 percent for six EMS departments and two first responder services – trained emergency personnel who respond in their vehicles and do not transport.
In 2008 commissioners bumped up EMS budgets from $10,000 to $15,000 because of additional proceeds from county-wide seizures of illegally run eight-liner machines. According to County Auditor Sharon Allen, this was supposed to be a one-time boost, but commissioners court budgeted $15,000 for county EMS providers in 2009 and 2010.
For 2011, commissioners opted to remove the $5,000, reducing EMS budgets to the level prior to the eight-liner seizures. This has some members of the mostly volunteer organizations displeased.
On Tuesday evening at 7 p.m., Tri-City EMS hopes to bend Commissioner Mike Pierce’s ear in their direction. They will conduct a public meeting to address the cutbacks at the Gordon Fire Hall at East Crockett and Walnut Streets in Gordon.
“We’re hoping to have the commissioner come down and talk about ambulance services,” said Roy Charles, vice president of the Tri-City EMS board.
Tri-City maintains two ambulances, one housed in Gordon and one in Strawn. Charles said they cover the southwestern portion of the county, including Strawn, Mingus, Gordon, Lake Palo Pinto and Dodson Prairie.
Not only does Tri-City respond to major accidents along Interstate 20, the train track and on Lake Palo Pinto, Charles said they cover two football games and handle chemical accidents.
“We’re strictly volunteer,” he said, but added that they must maintain licenses, credit hours and ambulance supplies that are dated.
In a five-month period, Charles said the department spent $1,063 for fuel, $4,650 for medical supplies, and over $1,200 for phone and utilities (each ambulance has to maintain a phone in the vehicle to communicate to emergency room departments).
Charles said they frequently average 40 miles one way when responding to a call. Depending on the location of an incident, they transport to hospitals in Mineral Wells, Eastland or Stephenville.
While the county helps provide funding to the EMS organizations, each has their own funding sources, according to Allen. Charles said Tri-City EMS receives some additional funds through individual donations, memorial contributions and some state monies.
In addition to the $5,000 cut from each EMS department, commissioners court also cut collision insurance on vehicles over 5 years old. Charles said, as a result, it will cost Tri-City EMS $5,000 to cover their two ambulances with collision insurance.
Allen said ambulances and any older vehicle operated by the county will be covered for liability but not physical damage.
The county’s EMS services are provided by: Graford EMS with one ambulance; Tri-City EMS with two ambulances; City-County EMS; Possum Kingdom East EMS with two ambulances; PK West EMS with 3 ambulances; and Santo EMS with two ambulances, however, only one is in operation.
According to Allen, City-County EMS covers their ambulances under their own insurance policy.
Staff writer Libby Cluett can be reached at (940) 325-4465, ext. 3422, or lcluett@mineralwellsindex.com.
