PASCO, Wash. - Pasco's City Council voted Monday to extend ambulance service for another month for residents living in Franklin County's Fire District 3.
The fire chief and commissioners have until the end of January to figure out an alternative plan to provide EMS services to their residents, who live in the area known as the Doughtnut Hole.
Earlier this year, the City told the Fire District Officials they will raise the rate from 30,000 a year to 180,000 a year, making ambulance services unaffordable for the fire district.
"So right now we're looking for any opportunity to find a different funding source, or to find a way to pay for EMS, or to be out of the EMS business completely," said Franklin County Fire District 3 Commissioner Tom Hughes.
Hughes said they are considering putting another property tax levy on the ballot, or asking county commissioners to create an ambulance fee that would be applied to each household.
He is also asking for people to join their Citizens Action Committee to help them come up with a solution.
