County looking at reinstating convalescent service as way to increase revenues

The Dickson County Ambulance Service is considering getting back into the business of making non-emergency convalescent runs to try to close the $1 million gap between revenues and expenses. While the financial data is still being developed, county Mayor Bob Rial told the county commission’s work session Monday night that early analysis shows the county could see an additional $470,000 in annual revenue, cutting the amount of taxpayer money used to subsidize the ambulance service almost in half. Rial said approximately 10 cents of the county’s current $2.85 property tax rate goes to the ambulance service, which falls about $1 million short of covering its own expenses. Director Donny Bear said the county service got out of the convalescent run business 7-8 years ago because it was going to require expansion of the department. Non-emergency runs such as transfers among hospitals or to nursing homes were left to private ambulance services. While Rial said there will be some start-up costs such as purchasing a new ambulance to be specifically dedicated to convalescent runs and additional staffing, the preliminary revenue projections make it worthwhile for the commission to consider the investment. Budget and Accounts Director Don Hall said there were an estimated 2,500 non-emergency ambulance runs in Dickson County during the last 18 months. Rial said he would have more concrete data in the next two weeks and the commission voted to continue the discussion at its Dec. 17 meeting.