Youngstown council turns down $600k AMR ambulance subsidy
YOUNGSTOWN - Since January of 2022, AMR Ambulance Services has been working with Youngstown City Council because the company is in need of money to help continue to operate.
AMR is claiming responding to emergency calls have become too expensive.
The company was asking for over $600,000 to improve their services but on Monday, Youngstown City Council voted the ordinance down.
"We understand that Youngstown is not what it's used to be and we have to work to bring that back," said Samantha Turner, Ward 3 Councilwoman.
Councilwoman Samantha Turner was the only member to vote for the ordinance.
Several council members argue there is already a contract with the city while the money would have added one more ambulance to their fleet. The legislation would have paid $62,500 monthly to AMR from ARP funds, which would also improve response time.
There was confusion on how many trucks would be added, but one is not enough to offer that kind of money from APR funding.
"We know that we need to provide service, we know our citizens need to have that," said Mike Ray, Ward 4 Councilman, "But, what we see in front of us doesn't make sense to pass at this point."
AMR claims ambulance runs cost more money than what Medicaid reimburses so the company is concerned they're losing money.
Over half of the ambulance calls from people living in Youngstown are from customers who use Medicaid.
"That's why you have contracts," Ray added. "I would hope they're the subject matter experts in the population demographic in who they're providing services to."
"Having 54% of calls are people who are on Medicaid, they're taking a loss," Turner said. "We have to be understanding to their business model and understand what we need to do as a city to bring and match that again."
"We haven't been able to sustain income tax. We haven't been able to sustain jobs and employment here so I definitely understand my colleagues hesitation on providing this funding outward because we haven't had to do that," Turner said.
Councilman Mike Ray said they're still willing to negotiate with AMR.
"We should look at the contract to make sure it make sense," Ray added. "If you overspend, you don't go to your boss and ask for more money. You have to learn to live within those contracts. I understand they raise good concerns, we just want to continue those conversations."
AMR did not reply to 21 News' calls on Monday.
City officials have also discussed creating it's own ambulance service but Fire Chief Barry Finley says that would take years to get moving.
AMR will continue their current services to the city, with a contract expiring at the end of 2022. AMR has a total of three ambulances that serve Youngstown.
Other topics discussed and passed at Monday's special council meeting include the idea of creating a women's pantry in the city. Council members voted unanimously for more security to be placed throughout Youngstown parks. Photo traffic monitoring devices will be installed to enforce speed limits in Youngstown school zones.
