A proposal to tap into reserve funds for about $138,000 to help purchase two new ambulances, one of which is needed to replace one wrecked in a collision this summer, is up for council approval Thursday. A city-owned 2012 GMC ambulance was destroyed in a traffic accident in June when it collided with a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox.
The city received $94,000 from its automobile insurance provider for the ambulance and stretcher. But that's well short of the $197,000 cost of buying a new ambulance, the lowest price offered in a competitive bidding process.
City Manager William Bridgeo has proposed to take money from the city's unassigned fund balance account, an account built up with money budgeted but unspent in previous years, to cover the difference between what insurance paid for the wrecked ambulance and the cost of a new one.
Councilors at their meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday are scheduled to consider appropriating $121,000 from the fund balance to supplement the $94,000 received from the insurance company to buy a new ambulance and stretcher to replace those wrecked in the crash.
Also, councilors will be asked to take an additional $17,000 from the same fund balance account to supplement the $180,000 already budgeted to purchase another new ambulance. Bridgeo said the ambulance it will replace was scheduled to be replaced this year. However, the $180,000 budgeted wouldn't be enough to cover the actual cost of a new ambulance.
Bridgeo said there is adequate money in the fund balance account to cover the additional funds needed for both new ambulances and still leave enough money in the fund to cover other unanticipated expenses should any come up and remain within auditors' recommendations.