LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Just days away from losing ambulance service, a southern Indiana county approved a solution.
Floyd County officials approved the contract during their meeting Tuesday night. County officials have figured out how to pay for the ambulance service for this year, but next year and the year after, they don't have a plan or the money.
WDRB previously showed you all of the options officials in Floyd County had in front of them, but they scrapped those plans for a last minute deal that didn't please everyone.
“It has been a joke,” an unidentified woman said from the podium at Tuesday's meeting.
The approved plan involves two separate ambulance services, Ameri-Pro and Highlander Fire.
Ameri-Pro, a private company, will provide service to most of the county. The company currently has a separate deal with the city of New Albany.
Highlander Fire, which has existing ambulance service for the area, will pick up the remaining smaller portion of the county.
The new services will cost Floyd County $1.3 million a year, and there are questions on how it's going to paid for.
“We are not sure yet ... and we have a history of this ... approving things without long term funding,” said Floyd County Council President Donny Short.
Floyd County was being charged $200,000 a year under the current contract with New Chapel EMS, which is set to expire on June 1. Since former Clark County Sheriff Jamie Noel was arrested for misusing millions of New Chapel EMS funds, the county started looking elsewhere for services.
The county had budgeted this year for new ambulance services, raising $1.1 million to pay for the new ambulance services for the remainder of this year. However, next year, taxpayers may be asked to make up the difference, by higher taxes or budget cuts.
“It could come from cuts, it could come from continued support from Legacy. It could come from shutting down some programs that we have that are not that meaningful,” said Short.
Short declined to say which programs could be on the chopping block.
The new ambulance services takes over June 1.
Previous Coverage:
- Floyd County, Indiana considers options other than New Chapel for ambulance service
- Clock is ticking as Floyd County leaders still work to find new EMS provider
- Floyd County leaders still figuring out plans, funding for EMS service
- Floyd County running out of time to find new ambulance provider after split from New Chapel EMS
- New Chapel EMS loses bid to provide ambulance service in Floyd County
- Investigators looking into whether Jamey Noel used New Chapel credit card for daughters' college tuition
- New Chapel Fire and EMS suing former chief Jamey Noel for credit card spending
- New search warrant accuses Jamey Noel of using fire department funds for high-end clothing
- Rocked by allegations against former CEO Jamey Noel, New Chapel Fire and EMS is restructuring
- Investigators looking into whether millions in credit card charges linked to Jamey Noel were paid with public funds
- Floyd County looks to separate from EMS service company once operated by Jamey Noel
- Floyd County leaders seeking new ambulance service as response times, legal issues complicate the future
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