Franklin County Commissioners tabled a decision Tuesday to turn the local ambulance service over to a private company because the money just isn’t there.
The county is in negotiations with a company called Lifeguard Ambulance Service of Florida to take over services.
The ambulance service is currently operated through Weems Memorial Hospital; it has two ambulances on call 24 hours a day with a third that operates during the summer months from St. George Island.
The company says it could enhance the ambulance service with additional vehicles on call and increased training for EMTs, first responders and firefighters.
It would also provide education and training for residents and students and provide numerous other professional services like grant writing and disaster planning.
The service is not cheap, however.
The company would require a 525 thousand dollar subsidy in its first year, though that subsidy would drop to zero by 2020.
That’s about 200 thousand dollars more than the county pays now to operate the ambulances.
County commissioners said they would really like to work with Lifeguard Ambulance but they don’t know where the money will come from.
The budget is already so tight that the county is considering furlough days for employees.
The board did not reject the proposal outright – they tabled any decision until their next meting to see if they can find a way to pay for the service.
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