Estimated budget raises concerns

At a Jefferson County Commission meeting last month, Whitehall Town Attorney Matthew Haus expressed concern with a resolution dealing with a proposed ambulance district.

Prior to the Commissioners 3-0 vote to approve a Resolution of Intent to create the Jefferson Valley Regional EMS and Rescue Ambulance District, Haus raised several questions about Section 6 of the Resolution that deals with the estimated cost and method of financing for the proposed district whose service area would include the Whitehall School District, excluding the Town Limits of Whitehall and Madison and Silver Bow Counties. (See map on page 5.)

Section six of the resolution states the estimated annual budget for the special district is $120,000 to $130,000.

"Funding for the special district annual budget will be from an initial assessment of $29 per year which will be imposed on each residential lot of parcel within the special district which contains a dwelling unit and upon developed commercial properties. There shall be no assessment on agricultural or vacant properties with no dwelling unit. The special district will also be funded from feed paid for emergency and non-emergency services provided by the special district," the resolution states.

Haus asked the Commission where they came up with the estimated number.

Commissioner Leonard Wortman said he received it from Jefferson Valley EMS and Rescue member Angel Adams. Wortman said the estimate was developed based on JVEMS members who used to work for Whitehall Ambulance, and used some of their experience in that role to estimate what it would cost to operate the district.

Haus said he was asking basic questions in regards to Section 6, but he was not getting the answers.

Wortman said the district board would set the budget for the district and this is just an estimate. He said the resolution required an estimate of what the operating budget would be.

Haus asked if the Commissioners had a chance to verify the numbers given by Adams in reference to the estimated budget, and stated how could they vote yes if they haven't verified the numbers.

Commission Chair Cory Kirsch said they can't verify something that doesn't exist.

"This is a proposed district, we are estimating what it might cost. They gave us an idea what it might cost. Once this gets going, that board will sit down and figure this out," Kirsch said.

Commissioner Bob Mullen said the voters in the district would need to look at the issue entirely and see if the proposed ambulance district is somebody they can do business with.

Haus asked how voters make that decision if they don't have all the information.

Haus said the Commissioners are saying don't trust us on the budget number, that the district is not the Commissioners decision.

Mullen said they are not making the decision about the district, and are asking the residents who live in the district.

Last month, Commissioner Wortman told the Ledger after they passed the Resolution the next step was to publish the decision, conduct a public hearing most likely in Whitehall, and they would also have to send a notice to all property notices in the proposed district.