Ambulance services in Washington County have been secured for the next fiscal year. The Washington County Board of Supervisors formally approved a one-year contract extension with Washington County Ambulance. Under the agreement, the county will increase the monthly pay to the service from $14,450 to $20,000. Supervisor Jack Seward said the board is working to do what is right for the residents of Washington County while providing no gap in service, “I have spoken to many other EMS and QRS people in the county, and even outside the county, they have said to change or to lessen anything of what we have would not be good for the citizens of Washington County. We are going to do our best to do right.”

In April, the supervisors approved submitting a new request for proposal for ambulance service with the desire to see an increase to three fully staff ambulances at a time. Currently there are two. At an earlier meeting, local paramedics expressed concern for cost and staffing. The first week of May, the supervisors recalled that RFP and agreed to develop a new one. All actions regarding the matter had Supervisor and Ambulance Director Richard Young abstain from voting.