Emergency Rescue Operations
Goal: The Emergency Rescue Fund will be self-supporting for all capital and operating expenses associated with providing Advanced Life Support ambulance transport services within the participating jurisdictions.
The Emergency Rescue Fund (Rescue Fund) was created in 1970 by Ordinance 1161. An Emergency Management Service (EMS) agreement between the City of Camas, City of Washougal, and East County Fire and Rescue provides for advanced life support ambulance transport service to all persons within the boundaries of these districts. The ambulance service area encompasses about 95 sq. mi. of southeastern Clark County and a population of about 45,000 residents. Emergency ambulance transport services from locations within the ambulance service area are provided to the closest available and appropriate medical facility.
Goal: The council in collaboration with EMS partner jurisdictions will determine the special tax levy rate to ask the voters to support the emergency services function, including operating and replacement costs for ambulances and equipment.
|
|
Approved Through |
|
Camas |
2012 |
|
Washougal |
2016 |
|
ECFR |
2014 |
Goal: The property tax levy will be designed to support 50% or more of the operating and capital expenses.
|
|
Covered Expenses |
|
2000 |
49% |
|
2001 |
49% |
|
2002 |
63% |
|
2003 |
54% |
|
2004 |
59% |
|
2005 |
62% |
|
2006 |
61% |
|
2007 |
63% |
|
2008 |
65% |
|
2009 |
67% |
|
2010 |
57% |
Goal: Strive for a minimum of 12% of Emergency Rescue Fund annual expenditures to be maintained in the Emergency Rescue Fund fund balance to accommodate for liquidity and cash flow needs during the year when property tax revenue collection is low.
|
Total Emergency Rescue |
Goal: 12% of |
|
Actual Fund Balance |
|
|
Year |
Expenditures |
Expenditures |
Actual Fund Balance |
Percentage of Expenditures |
|
2000 |
$1,463,349 |
$175,602 |
$537,286 |
37% |
|
2001 |
$1,665,683 |
$199,882 |
$292,315 |
18% |
|
2002 |
$1,398,230 |
$167,788 |
$511,294 |
37% |
|
2003 |
$1,662,227 |
$199,467 |
$585,403 |
35% |
|
2004 |
$1,557,424 |
$186,891 |
$222,690 |
14% |
|
2005 |
$1,598,444 |
$191,813 |
$277,231 |
17% |
|
2006 |
$1,727,625 |
$207,315 |
$389,207 |
23% |
|
2007 |
$2,374,255 |
$284,911 |
$180,992 |
8% |
|
2008 |
$2,318,577 |
$278,229 |
$163,558 |
7% |
|
2009 |
$3,291,480* |
$394,978 |
$482,782 |
14% |
|
2010 |
$3,281,111 |
$393,733 |
$482,782 |
15% |
*Budgeted Expenses
Ambulance fees will be reviewed at least every 2 years to assure these rates and the tax levy meet amortized capital and annual operating costs. Write-off of uncollectible accounts will occur routinely and systematically following the Ambulance Billing and Collection Policy.
Contributions to the General Fund for its accounting and administration support services will be calculated using the same process as is used by other funds to contribute to the General Fund.
|
|
General Fund |
|
2000 |
$120,000 |
|
2001 |
$123,600 |
|
2002 |
$ 77,600 |
|
2003 |
$ 80,000 |
|
2004 |
$ 96,000 |
|
2005 |
$ 98,800 |
|
2006 |
$101,846 |
|
2007 |
$105,000 |
|
2008 |
$108,000 |
|
2009 |
$111,240 |
|
2010 |
$124,556 |
Goal: EMS Fund will strive to replace ambulance chassis’ every six years and the complete ambulance will be replaced every twelve years.
Currently, a fleet of three primary transport ambulances and one reserve ambulance is maintained to provide transport ambulance services. Ambulance chassis are replaced on a 6-year cycle. Chassis mileage at replacement is about 130,000 miles. Patient compartments are refurbished at 6 years when the chassis is replaced and complete ambulances are replaced at 12 years. In 2009 dollars, a new ambulance is about $150,000 and patient compartment refurbishing and chassis replacement cost is about $90,000.
