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Ellinger laments city's opposition to county's effort to bolster ambulance funding

By Kris Hilgedick khil@newstribune.com
Published: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 3:07 PM CDT
As Jefferson City and Cole County officials offer competing plans for area ambulance coverage, Presiding Commissioner Marc Ellinger said the county's half-cent sales tax proposal provides long-term support for a healthy service and gives citizens a chance to offer their ideas.

Under the county's plan on the Nov. 4 ballot, Capital Region Medical Center is expected to continue providing service into early 2009, giving local officials time to consult the public about the formation of a new ambulance system.

If approved, the new sales tax is expected to raise $5.1 million. But $3.06 million will be returned to citizens in the form of reduced property taxes, leaving $2.04 million in brand new revenues for ambulance service.

County estimates indicate - were Capital Region to continue running ambulances - the hospital would make $2.4 million by charging fees to patients or billing insurance companies, including the federal government.

Another $90,496 could be charged for inpatient runs, delivering patients to an open MRI machine across town.

Added up, the county's plan - theoretically for 2009 - would create a $4.56 million pool of funding with which to operate a new ambulance service next year. Expenses to operate a system similar to Capital Region's current service are estimated to be $3.6 million - a net difference of $949,667.

Calling that amount an “operational surplus,” Ellinger said it could be used to train first responders ($110,000), replace ambulances ($300,000), upgrade equipment and purchase new technology ($200,000) and create a contingency account ($81,600).

The remaining money - $258,066 - would be set aside as reserves. Ellinger's goal is to create a credible reserve fund and provide funding stability for 20 years.

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Thanks.

DJ wrote on Oct 29, 2008 9:01 AM:

" Answer the questions on this blog Jack. We don't need you e-mailing anymore lies! Vote NO! "

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truthbetold wrote on Oct 29, 2008 12:35 AM:

" Jack, I have a question you may have the answer to, was there an email sent out that stated if the City ran the ambulance service there would be no ambulances for county residents? "

Report Abuse

Jack wrote on Oct 28, 2008 6:25 PM:

" If you have questions or would like information about ambulance service you may contact us at "countywidequestion@hotmail.com".
Representing all the emergency services in Jefferson City and Cole County, on the main committee as well as the subcommittee that researched ambulance options, we have all facts and figures accumulated during that time. "

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Boscoe wrote on Oct 27, 2008 1:48 PM:

" OK. Thanks.

I guess my biggest question is "Why can't the council and the Commission work together to find the best possible solution for great ambulance service at the lowest costs for taxpayers?" "Why do we keep having to suffer from competition and duplication from both governmental agencies? "

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schultz wrote on Oct 27, 2008 12:02 PM:

" I wasn't offering up any views. I was going to try to shed some light from someone that has actually been talking with the city and met with them regarding concerns and issues, we have worked together to come up with a good service plan. I have nothing to lose or gain in this debate. That's not why we (the union) got into it. Just thought i would offer up any information that would clear the airwaves. "

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boscoe wrote on Oct 26, 2008 3:47 PM:

" Id rather hear some answers from the county commissioners and the city council working together to bring us the best proposal.

I don't know who you are or why I'd want your views on this politically-charged issue between the commission and the council. "

Report Abuse

Schultz wrote on Oct 23, 2008 9:56 PM:

" OK, most of you on here will probably know who I am. What do you want to know? I will answer you 100% if I know. I'm trying to be above board here, so lets keep it clean, OK? I am a JC firefighter/medic and a part-time CREMS paramedic. I support the city's plan "

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truthbetold wrote on Oct 23, 2008 9:48 PM:

" here are the facts for everyone that doesn't understand them, or haven't read them. The City will provide 6 ALS ambulances on a 24 hr basis for a countywide response, period. End of story. The resolution they passsed will hold them to it. As for the 3 ALS ambulances? I think resQguy answered that question perfectly for you. "

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ResQguy wrote on Oct 23, 2008 9:39 PM:

" str8shooter,
Every proposal made by the City calls for keeping 2 ambulances in the county, just as they are now. "

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ResQguy wrote on Oct 23, 2008 9:34 PM:

" ronnie,
As "intheknow" said, the City has hired the current Manager of the ambulance service as a consultant; also, several City firefighters currently work for the ambulance service, and two of them are on the committee helping the City structure it's plan. "

Report Abuse

ResQguy wrote on Oct 23, 2008 9:28 PM:

" Easton,

The City's original plan included 3 ALS ambulances, 1 BLS ambulances, 1 reserve ambulance, and 29 employees for inside the City. The plan language for outside the City called for providing "at least the existing level of service," including two ALS ambulances, and adding additional personnel to cover the unincorporated areas.

The revised plan calls for an additional reserve ambulance (8 total, 6 staffed), calls for all 6 to be ALS, and combines City & county staff, for a total of 44.

This is more than the existing level of service, which is exactly what the county proposes to maintain.

City plan = more service, less cost "

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str8shooter wrote on Oct 23, 2008 5:33 PM:

" Yes the city is offering to to provide the service to the county for a fee andambulances based in the city as they are now but the counties plan stations for better coverage outside the city limits, I've heard the fee is 400k per year to provide service that the county is going to have to pay and will increase when the cities funding expires(sunsets). "

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countyfactor wrote on Oct 23, 2008 3:51 PM:

" BA,1100 , easton, I guess it's only a good sales tax if the county proposes it? huh? Lets see in tonights paper about the county's street cred they don't even no where all the money is going. As for the city employees well I believe if the city fire dept wants to provide county wide service and lets see who would be doing the work? J.C. FIRE DEPT. then I believe I will listen to them, if they are willing to do the work let em. It's got to be better than we the county got now. "

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BA_1100_N wrote on Oct 23, 2008 2:15 PM:

" Easton
I wonder what they were gonna do with the extra money before they went to 6. If there was not any then they are way underfunded now. "

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BA_1100_N wrote on Oct 23, 2008 2:13 PM:

" The city says now they are loosing sales tax money due to the economy, so tell me their number won't go up once they know they run the show. Probably same as the county, can't wait for that I told you so.

Talk to other city employees see how they like the city taking on this ambulance. They know its hard enough in there now. Police, Street, Sewer etc..
Only group(s) heard from are related to Fire. Go ahead one of you may bash me now w/a new ID saying you work for one of these fields. lol. "

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BA_1100_N wrote on Oct 23, 2008 2:07 PM:

" Yes their sales tax they say now will be smaller, Still no roll back that is the difference. This type of sales tax is required by law to roll back at least 50% taken in to property taxes County is rolling 60% taken in and giving that back. If they were that greedy they would not of added the 10%. Plus if things are going well then after time they can vote to lower the tax rate. By saying they won't is also saying that city officials won't give back the 8 cents when their sales tax passes. So don't bother baddgering their credibility. They are all politicians on either side. You just have to choose what you like best. "

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BA_1100_N wrote on Oct 23, 2008 1:59 PM:

" first of all to Boscoe I like reading stuff you put up on these blogs things to think about but FYI you can not vote no on the city plan that is what you get if the county plan does not pass cut and dry, that will not change. People had no say in that it is forced.

Now to mrh, countyfactor and the incrowd. You all just preached No new taxes or sales taxs hurt renters. Um what will the city try to vote on next year to fund this ummmmmmm a SALES TAX!!! You know the city will do that and keep the 8 cent one on properties to cover obvious underfunding. Which they did just to get the service. "

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Easton wrote on Oct 23, 2008 1:17 PM:

" If the County Question fails, Cole County outside of Jefferson City limits will be without an ambulance service. Bottom line.

Answer me this: The city's first plan was 3 ALS units and 25 employees. Now their plan is 6 ALS units and 44 employees...with no increase in the cost of their plan? How do those numbers pan out?

You "City" folks sure seem awful itchy to get your hands on that control. Wonder why that is? "

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Easton wrote on Oct 23, 2008 1:06 PM:

" If the County Question fails, Cole County outside of Jefferson City limits will be without an ambulance service. Bottom line.

Answer me this: The city's first plan was 3 ALS units and 25 employees. Now their plan is 6 ALS units and 44 employees...with no increase in the cost of their plan? How do those numbers pan out?

You "City" folks sure seem awful itchy to get your hands on that control. Wonder why that is? "

Report Abuse

intheknow wrote on Oct 23, 2008 11:49 AM:

" The City has hired the current manager according to an article as a consultant so I'd think that the employee's are on the radar. I know the City has a lot to offer.

VOTE NO ON THE COUNTY QUESTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

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ronnie wrote on Oct 23, 2008 11:28 AM:

" Has the city or county officials ever thought to ask the ems employees of Capital Region what their thoughts and concerns were? Their insight to what would be best for the county and city might suprise them. "

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intheknow wrote on Oct 23, 2008 9:40 AM:

" sorry about typo's "

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intheknow wrote on Oct 23, 2008 9:39 AM:

" No More New Tax's Right. The city has already raised the property tax why would we want more.

Ellinger is wrong, wrong, wrong, the City already has a plan and the county is wanting the money to fund the county jail, the secert is out Mark, your over budget!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VOTE NO ON THE COUNTY QUESTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

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countyfactor wrote on Oct 23, 2008 8:15 AM:

" Again I will say that I am tired of the county commish wasting all our tax dollars. You cant get Mark E. pinned down on a very important question WHO WILL BE PROVIDING THE SERVICE...... Please answer that question with certainty not maybes. I think the picture is becoming clearer now the new county law taj mahal jail is waaay over budget and if they pass another 1/2 cent sales tax it's another 500 grand to go to well lets see, THE JAIL........ County residents lets do what John Mccain says stand up and fight this government greed and say no to any new TAXES. "

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mrh wrote on Oct 23, 2008 12:22 AM:

" Vote NO on the Countywide Question raising sales tax by 0.5%. There are too many discrepancies in Ellinger’s stories and “facts” to justify passing his sales tax. Reducing property tax with a sales tax saves the slum lords money while shifting the burden to the renters who can not afford to own their own home. It also forces money out of people living in government housing which has no property tax assessed. The argument that this would make people who work in the county but live somewhere else also fails. They don’t shop in Cole County; they don’t pay much, if any, sales tax in Cole County. All this sales tax does is save the rich money and increase "

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quitcomplaining wrote on Oct 22, 2008 5:19 PM:

" Marc, along with one of the other county commisioners and one of the county fire chiefs has told members of the city's fire department that " we envision the City Fire Dept. running the service." That tells me they like all of the city's plan except the part that does not let the county commisioners collect the windfall tax. "

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Boscoe wrote on Oct 22, 2008 4:57 PM:

" Vote NO on both city and county plans.

Both stink for different reasons.

We need a real ambulance district independent of city hall and county commission corruption and incompetence. "

Report Abuse

ResQguy wrote on Oct 22, 2008 4:54 PM:

" MARC IS RIGHT about one thing:

"Certain individuals HAVE done an excellent job of framing this as a city-versus-county issue."

JACK BRADE has done an excellent job of making every local issue a City-versus-County issue, due to his long-standing, personal vendetta against the City.

The erroneous data Mr. Brade has been dispensing to anyone who will listen doesn't remotely resemble the figures Marc Ellinger presented. "

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ResQguy wrote on Oct 22, 2008 4:46 PM:

" AEDs???
Automated External Defibrillators represent basic-level technology- that City fire trucks have had for a decade.
The ECG (Electro-Cardio Graph) monitor/defibrillators currently on the Capital Region ambulances do incorporate AED technology (so that EMTs can use them while Paramedics perform advanced skills) but these cardiac monitors are far superior to the basic AEDs Marc "expect(s) to have" on every ambulance, and ECG monitor/defibrillators have many advanced options than a AED simply does not.
He should expect far better!
Marc should leave medical discussions to people who actually know & understand these issues. "

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truthbetold wrote on Oct 22, 2008 4:12 PM:

" WHOA wait a minute!!!!! Why are the county numbers now DIFFERENT than the original document they put together with the William Keepers numbers and gave to the public at their hearings ?? The estimated cost for 2009 was originally 3.36 million, now its 3.6? and the 'net difference' number is even skewed by ten thousand?? Pick a set of numbers and stick with them?!? "

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ironman wrote on Oct 22, 2008 4:10 PM:

" Capital Region goes status zero 3 or 4 times a week. If theis low form of service is what you want vote yes. If you want a better service with mor ambulances in operation than vote no. I have heard for people waiting as much as fifteen min. for an ambulance in the city. Please vote no. "

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intheknow wrote on Oct 22, 2008 4:04 PM:

" What a poor excuse for a plan. Pork Barrel spending is what I call it. Beside's not counting the use tax that the county will collect is over funding a issue that the City said it could do with $400,000.

VOTE NO ON THE COUNTY QUESTION!!!!!!!!! "

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quitcomplaining wrote on Oct 22, 2008 3:58 PM:

" Funny, it's like it is hard for him to come up with ways to spend the money. Even if it goes where he says it might "in theory". what about to nearly 300,000 in reserves and the 500,000. use tax along with the 500,000. use tax on the county jail? That adds up to 1.3 million too much.With still no plan for service. The City is providing the plan for service for the entire COUNTY. If a better plan can be presented I am all for it. But the county's plan is not better. It is all about the dollar's. "

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