TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Keith Stahley, City Manager
FROM: Josh Eggleston, Chief Financial Officer
SUBJECT:
title
Modification of Fire Department fees related to ambulance services.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Good Governance; Safe and Healthy Community.
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SUMMARY:
summary
Since the adoption of the annual Fee Schedule in June 2022, there have been some fees related to ambulance services that need to be modified. Adoption of this resolution will impact a total of 14 fees related to the Fire Department. All other fees in the master fee schedule, adopted through resolution no. 2022-27, will remain unchanged.
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ISSUE:
Shall City Council adopt Resolution No. 2022-54 modifying specific fees and charges for the Fire Department?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2022-54 modifying specific fees and charges for the Fire Department.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
The proposed changes to the Master Fee Schedule include adjustment to the rates of pre-hospital treatment and transport for ambulance services. The City contracts with Falck Ambulance to provide ambulance services within Salem city limits. Through the Fee Schedule, the City sets the rates at which Falck can charge for services provided in Salem. Falck has seen an increase in expenses including labor and associated retention costs, pre-hospital medical supplies and fuel. The rates that would be modified via approval of the resolution will enable Falck to maintain their current work force numbers, continue to remain competitive in recruitment and keep up with the rising costs of providing necessary life-saving care to Salem residents. This rate increase will not impact Medicare and Medicaid payers as the amount those recipients pay are set by the State and Federal governments.
Most fee modifications proposed are going to a shared flat rate, where most services are charged the same amount of $1,850. This results in a variety of adjustments to fees - with some fees seeing decreases as much as $48 and others seeing increases as much as $796. The flat rate approach is consistent with most other departments in Oregon. Additionally, the proposed rates are still competitive and are not the highest in our market. Attachment 2 displays these rates in their current amounts and their proposed amounts.
BACKGROUND:
The proposed changes provided by the Fire Department to the Fee Schedule are necessary before the adoption of the fiscal year 2024 Fee Schedule in June. These modifications to the Fee Schedule are needed to account for rising employee and material coasts being experienced by Falck.
Kelli Blechschmidt
Management Analyst I
Attachments:
1. Resolution 2022-54
2. Resolution 2022-54, Exhibit A - List of proposed modifications to the Fee Schedule