In an effort to shore up revenues to help fund the operation, the DeKalb County Commission Monday night voted to raise ambulance service billing rates, effective July 1 based on a recommendation by the budget committee.
The Basic Life Support rate will go from $350 to $500. The rate for Advance Life Support will increase from $450 to $600 and the Advance Life Support 2 fee will jump from $650 to $700.
Mileage charges will also increase from $10.50 per mile to $12.00 per mile.
“The budget committee is recommending this to try and get more revenue for the ambulance service. The reason why we (county commission) are voting now is so we can get this effective July 1 with the billing company. Insurance companies will be billed these rates,” said County Mayor Tim Stribling.
The new rates will also be more in line with what other counties in the area charge. “We got some information on rates in surrounding counties. Smith County’s rate for Advance Life Support is $550, $750 for Life Support Level 2, and $450 for Basic Life Support. Smith County’s mileage charge is $13.50,” said Stribling.
“White County’s Basic Life Support rate is $346.50. Their rate for Advance Life Support Level 1 is $424 and $559 for Advance Support Level 2 and their mileage is $10.50.”
“In Warren County all runs are at a base rate of $500 except specialty runs at $650. Their cost per mile is $11.00.”
“Cannon County’s Basic Life Support is $500. Advance Life Support is $550. Life Support Level 2 is $700. Their charge per mile is $13.00,”
“Macon County’s Basic Life Support is $444. Their Advance Life Support is $527. The Life Support Level 2 is $762 and their cost per mile is $12.80,” Stribling said.
In other business, the commission gave approval for the DeKalb County Young Farmers & Ranchers to use the county complex parking lot on Friday, June 24 to register participants from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in the annual “Giggin’ for Grads” frog gigging tournament that night. Proceeds will benefit the Agricuture Scholarship Fund. The weigh-in will be Saturday morning, June 25 at 1:00 a.m.
The commission granted a lease of two vacant lots owned by the county for use by the Jamboree Committee during the annual Fiddlers Jamboree in July.
A lease renewal was approved with UCHRA for office space in the county complex. The original lease was from July 11, 2011 to June 30, 2016 for $40,545 per year or $3,378 per month at $9.00 per square foot. The commission approved a new five year lease at the same rate.
Meanwhile the five member DeKalb County Board of Equalization will convene June 1, 2, 3, 6, & 7 for its yearly session to consider appeals from property owners regarding their assessments. In April the commission reappointed Phillip Hendrix and Carl Dwayne Webb to the Board while the Smithville Aldermen in May reappointed Russell Watson as the city’s representative on the board. The county commission had also appointed Robert Robinson but he later notified County Mayor Tim Stribling that he could not serve. Since then County Mayor Stribling has appointed Doyle Evans and Jimmy Goad to the board.
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