Beech Tree News Network

911 dispatching, not the operation of the local ambulance service itselft, is the reason for the financial shortfall impacting Butler County EMS. 

“We want to make it clear that the shortfall is in the 911 Dispatch.  The ambulance service is doing fine and runs are up from previous years,” said Brian McKinney, Butler County EMS Director.

McKinney's comments are in reference to the last Butler County Fiscal Court meeting in which the financial status of the Butler County Ambulance Board was a major topic of discussion.  

At that meeting ambulance board member Don Sullivan asked the court to pay for the county’s portions of 911 dispatching services.

According to Sullivan, the ambulance service had a dispatching deficit in 2014 of $102,260. Using a breakdown of calls received to dispatch, Sullivan showed that of 15,772 calls received in 2014, 6,453 of the calls were for county services. Based on those figures 41% of calls were for county services.

Sullivan proposed that the county pay $41,927 of the shortfall, which amounts to 41% of the deficit. He told the court that charging for dispatch services is something the board had considered before but did not enact because the county had previously provided bays for the ambulances, a dispatch office, and other facilities. He said that the city of Morgantown now provides the facilities for the ambulance service and dispatch for $1 per year.

According to McKinney, 911 revenue is down due to fewer people having phone landlines, which benefits the dispatch through taxation. Also, overall expenses have increased. 

A Closer Look

Dispatch Expenses Fiscal Year July 1, 2013- June 30,2014

Personnel ( 4 full time, 4 part-time, 1 part –time mapping, and 25% of the director and secretary’s salary)

Salaries                                                 $170, 566

Retirement & Insurance                           $40,936

ATT Pro Club                                          $14,268

ATT Phone Bill                                         $2,544

Phone Controller                                    $40,872 (per year for 5 years- 4 years left)

GoeConex                                              $11,036 annual fee

Office Supplies                                       $1,100

911 fuel                                                $788

Tower Rental                                         $2,400

Insurance

911 Vehicle                                         $508

911 Equipment                                    $900

Total Expenses                                   $285,918

Income

CMRS Wireless                                  $115,580 (cell phones)

911 Surcharge                                    $68,078 (land lines)

Total Income                                     $183,658

Loss                                                 -$102,206

Total dispatch calls were 15,772 in 2014 with 6,453 contributed to county entities equaling 41% of the calls.

Butler County Sheriff                     4074

Butler County Fire Depts.               737

Butler County Rescue                    253

Butler County Constables              22

Butler County Jail                          21

Butler County Road Dept.               16

BC Emergency Management           13

Butler County Coroner                   12

911 also receives miscellaneous seeking information or making various complaints.  Included in the 6,453 calls above were 1,305 misccellaneous calls,  which represent one-third of all miscellaneous calls to dispatch.

“When the ambulance board took over 911 dispatch it was making money, however several things have changed,” said McKinney.  "Income is down due to the loss of land lines, state-mandated 911 mapping expenses (adding a vehicle, personnel, and new equipment expenses), and a new phone controller had to purchased." 

McKinney indicated that since the city of Morgantown currently leases facilities for dispatch and the ambulance for $1 per year to the ambulance board, the board has no plans to ask the city to pay for its portion of dispatching services. 

City Dispatch Calls

Morgantown City Police                     3750

Morgantown Fire Dept.                      419

Misc.                                              1305

Total                                              5474