Area ambulance services are facing funding and staffing shortages, and emergency medical services officials predict the same challenges will soon hit area volunteer fire departments.
In the past few years, Clarion Hospital has closed its Station 2 and Station 3 operations, and ambulance services in Perry and Farmington townships and Shippenville/Elk Township also have closed. Supporting out-of-county ambulance services in Summerville and Sheffield also have closed.
State law prohibits the county from levying an EMS tax, and township and boroughs are limited by law to enacting an EMS tax of no more than one-half mill.
Although there is general agreement that financial support for EMS units is badly needed, local municipal leaders have many questions and concerns about an authority working in Clarion County.
“It’s something that probably does work in an area with a population of thousands of people,” Knox Borough Council President Jack Bish Jr. said during the panel’s meeting earlier this month, “but here, I don’t know. This year, our ambulance company had one of its best years ever (receiving donations).”
Beaver Township Supervisor Jim Weeter agreed, noting the half-mill tax allowed for EMS “isn’t worth bothering with.”
Bish has expressed concern that an authority EMS tax would actually generate less revenue than the current membership/donation system.
Bish said when he renewed his ambulance membership this year, he gave an extra $75. “But if I’m going to get a bill for $75 (under an authority system), I don’t know if I’m going to donate extra.”
Knox Borough also has donated $80,000 to Knox Ambulance and Knox Volunteer Fire Department over the past two years, with the money coming from the American Rescue Plan.
“I went to the township portion of it,” Weeter said. “I thought it was a disaster. Same old information. Scare tactics. I thought there would be someone from (the Pittsburgh area) to explain their authority. An authority won’t work here unless everyone is on board.
“Sustainability is going to be the key.”
Bish said council member Bill Henry, who was unable to attend this month’s meeting, attended that county meeting on behalf of Knox. “I talked to Bill. His opinion is to sit back and wait.”
Weeter responded, “Well, somebody is going to have to jump in the pool first. I want to check with our attorney to see if we can levy a flat fee for EMS on all residents. That way, everyone is contributing.”
Knox Borough Council member Linda Runyan, noting the discussion on EMS funding has been going on for some time now, asked if there is a deadline for the municipalities to make a decision on a regional EMS authority.
“No, not yet,” Weeter said. “At least not until the state steps in and says ’Here is what you’re going to do.’ I’m getting the feeling from other townships I’ve talked to that their feeling is ‘We’re not doing this and you can’t make us.’”
Bish suggested the ambulance and VFD district, which includes Knox Borough, and Ashland, Beaver and Salem townships, discuss the situation.
“Let’s see what we can come up with,” he said.