Cummings: Protect ambulance services in St. Clair County

EMS is essential in our community. It is a matter of life or death, and St. Clair County’s EMS providers are extremely proud to answer the call and serve county residents.

Tri-Hospital EMS and our fellow EMS providers at Marysville Public Safety and Richmond Lenox EMS have always been there for local residents in need. That’s a mission we’re committed to continuing, but we need your help to make sure it’s possible. 

The future of EMS is now uncertain. EMS providers nationwide are dealing with a staffing crisis, and St. Clair County is no exception. County demand for EMS services is up 31% in the last 10 years. Meanwhile, it’s been extremely difficult to find trained paramedics and EMTs. As a result, our staff is working overtime to make sure every call is answered, resulting in a 24% increase in labor costs. And everyone knows how expensive gas is. Costs for fueling up our emergency vehicles have skyrocketed and are still climbing. All the while, the funding paying for ambulance services has remained stagnant.  

Many local residents don’t realize they don’t already pay for EMS. Tri-Hospital EMS has been serving St. Clair County residents for more than 35 years and though we are ready 24/7, we are only paid when we answer an emergency call, and not even always then. As our costs rise, the cost-of-readiness has continued to grow and though we’ve spent many years trying to make this model work, it simply isn’t possible anymore.

There will be an ambulance service proposal on the Aug. 2 primary ballot. It will, for the first time, support local ambulance service through a St. Clair County property tax millage. For about $50 per household per year (based on $100,000 taxable value of a local home), the proposal will help ensure emergency care for all county residents and directly address the financial challenges facing local care providers like us.

It’s quite common for EMS providers across the state and country to receive local funding either through a millage or other forms of funding from their local municipalities. Paying for EMS should be no different than paying for other local services like police, trash, road paving, etc. Local support will ensure we can continue to do our duty and be there when you need us most.

The ambulance service proposal will provide needed investment to address the local shortage of paramedics and EMTs. It also can protect needed and timely ambulance services in the community, especially in our most rural communities. Lastly, it will support your county ambulance personnel working around the clock to be there when you need them. Local support can keep EMS services strong in St. Clair County so that no one ever has to worry when calling 9-1-1. The last thing we want to do is reduce services and that’s why we need your support.

We have made it our mission to answer the call when local residents need us. Every single time. Now we hope you’ll answer the call and support the ambulance service millage proposal on Aug. 2. To learn more about the ambulance service proposal, visit SayYesToEMS.com.

Ken Cummings, president and CEO of Tri-Hospital EMS