Amending Chapter 9 Entitled Ambulance /Medical User Fee and Dedicated Fund

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Joseph E. Keman Director, Administration and Finance CITY of SOUTH BEND ROGER O. PARENT, Mayor COUNTY -CITY BUILDING SOUTH BEND, INDIANA 46601 February 18, 1981 South Bend Common Council 4th Floor County -City Building South Bend, Indiana 46601, Dear Members of the Council: 219/284 -9742 This ordinance would amend the fees assessed for the use of ambulance /medical services provided by the City of South Bend. The fees that will be charged are more consistent with those charged in this geographic area, and very closely conform with the standards that have been set by health insurance companies for reimbursement. While the amended fees will provide for added revenue, the cost of providing this very necessary emergency medical ser- vice is still substantially underwritten by local property tax revenues. Based on some of the discussions we have had I have added language that would serve to address what both the Council and the Administration feel is an important concern - capital equipment and improvements. The ordinance would provide that a separate fund be established in 1982 for these ambulance fee revenues. The purpose for waiting until next year is that these receipts have already been dedicated to the General Fund as a miscellaneous revenue for 1981. The ordinance also provides that while the fees are earmarked for capital equipment and improvements, they may be used to address operating expenses. While the capital program is recognized as extremely important, this will give us the flex- ibility to be able to prioritize the use of the funds on expenses that may be more critical at any given time.