Commission votes for 911 taxing district

Bonner County commissioners agreed this week to form a taxing district to pay for a countywide ambulance system.

The county’s previous ambulance provider, Big Sky Paramedics, cited a lack of financial support and rising health care costs when it began cutting services earlier this summer.

“That put us in a very difficult situation,” said Commission Chairwoman Marcia Phillips. “When they pulled back, it left huge voids in the service.”

Volunteers and local fire districts have filled the gap, but county officials have scrambled to develop a lasting solution, Phillips said. The taxing district will raise about $1.2 million annually, but the money won’t be available until January 2006. Until then, the county is considering tapping a reserve fund to pay for ambulance service.

Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to create the new district. Officials will meet again Tuesday to discuss setting up the new emergency medical system funded by the district. Ultimately, the taxing district will support a program with an administrative staff and oversight by a review board and a physician. The emergency medical system might rely on volunteer responders in some areas, or it could contract with another for-profit company, Phillips said.

“We’re investigating every option we have,” Phillips said.

So far, there have been no deaths or aggravated medical problems attributed to the service cutbacks, Phillips said. The volunteer emergency medical providers have ensured that each 911 call is answered as quickly as possible, she said.

“They’re doing this without any additional resources,” Phillips said. “They’re very stretched. They can’t continue. These people have gone above and beyond the call of duty. And now it’s time for them to have some rest and some reward.”