Title
Consideration of and action on an ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Budget for Emergency Medical Services.
Body
Summary: The Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Budget for Emergency Medical Services included funding for contract labor to cover the monthly stipends for EMS volunteers. In February 2016, the City Council approved a contract with Emergicon, Inc. to perform billing services for EMS responses and transports. The City’s expectation was that a third-party billing company would achieve an increase in the average collection rate resulting in improved revenues for ambulance billing. As expected, there was an increase in revenue for ambulance billing due to the higher collection rate achieved by Emergicon, Inc. during Fiscal Year 2015-2016; however, the cost of these billing services was not included in the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 budget. Note: the City paid approximately $27,400.00 to Emergicon, Inc. during Fiscal Year 2015-2016 and collected an additional $149,000.00 in ambulance billing revenues as compared to the prior year.
Additionally during the fiscal year, a temporary laborer was hired to perform administrative duties during an extended leave for a full-time staff member. This cost was not anticipated during the budget process for Fiscal Year 2015-2016.
A budget amendment in the amount of $32,800.00 is necessary to cover the increase in contract labor during Fiscal Year 2015-2016, to be funded from the unassigned fund balance of the General Fund, which is available for this purpose.
Fiscal/Budgetary Impact:
Include $32,800.00 in the General Fund (Account No. 10-305-4290, Contract Labor) to be funded from the unassigned fund balance of the General Fund, which is available for this purpose.
Recommended action
Approve the ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Budget for Emergency Medical Services.