New Kent Fees Hearing Tonight: Plan Calls for Fees for Ambulance Service, Some Driving Offenses
By Melodie N. Martin, Richmond Times-Dispatch
Apr. 9–Residents can share their thoughts tonight on proposals that would allow New Kent County to collect fees for rescue squad calls and certain motor-vehicle offenses.
A public hearing on both proposals is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the boardroom of the New Kent County Administration Building, 12007 Courthouse Circle.
New Kent Fire Chief Tommy Hicks said the fees collected would allow the county to improve fire and emergency coverage by providing additional ambulances and staffing.
“The county is growing rapidly,” Hicks said. “The call volume is increasing. We’re just trying to create a mechanism to support that call volume so we can still deliver good service to the citizens.”
The proposed fees for ambulance transports range from $350 for basic life support to $575 to the most advanced life support, and a charge of $7.50 per mile. An evaluation fee of $75 would be charged to patients who are not transported and do not live in the county.
Residents could also enroll in a $50-a-year subscription program that would cover all emergency-services costs.
County Administrator John Budesky said the measure would allow the county to charge insurance companies and users of the system. The fee may be waived for those who lack insurance coverage or the ability to pay, he said.
“With demand for services increasing, we’ve been looking at ways to not burden the existing tax base with all the costs for fire and rescue,” Budesky said. “This is one option to minimize the tax burden.”
Budesky said the projected annual revenue from the fees is $312,000.
An ordinance being considered by the Board of Supervisors would also establish the New Kent Fire-Rescue Department, made up of the three existing volunteer fire and rescue stations, career firefighters employed by the county and the Providence Forge Volunteer Rescue Squad, which also serves but would not bill for calls in Charles City County.
New Kent Sheriff F.W. Howard Jr. said imposing an additional fee on individuals convicted of certain motor-vehicle offenses driving under the influence, reckless driving, hit-and-run, driving without an operators license or driving on a suspended or revoked license — would allow the county to recoup about $112,500 in costs annually.
“With DUIs, it’s not where you write a ticket and walk away,” Howard said. Even when no crash is involved, he said, such offenses can tie up deputies for several hours and incur jail costs.
“It’s very labor-intensive,” he said.
Contact staff writer Melodie N. Martin at mmartin@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6290.
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Copyright (c) 2007, Richmond Times-Dispatch
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