Moses Lake fee increases

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake City Council unanimously made changes to the ambulance service.

Although the ambulance is available to anyone who needs it, the discounted service is now only extended to Moses Lake residents and to on-duty employees of businesses that pay the monthly utility fee.

The monthly fee was increased from $3.12 to $4.70.

The fee provides relief from out-of-pocket expenses related to the cost of an ambulance ride by funding the cost through an accumulated fee paid by all utility payers.

The city is electing to cater only to utility payers due to the increasing cost to operate the service.

Finance Director Ronald Cone explained there was a loss in revenue leading to the need to increase the monthly fee. In addition to increased costs for the service, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements to the city are not great enough.

Councilmember David Curnel asked if the city could postpone the fee for a couple of months due to the recent implementation of the stormwater fee. He said he did not want to add more fees all at once on one utility bill.

City Manager Joe Gavinski explained delaying the fee will only require it to be larger once it is implemented.

The city re-evaluates the ambulance fee at least once annually. The last time council evaluated the fee, it was reduced.

The fee goes into effect May 1.

Councilmember Richard Pearce was absent from the meeting.