City of Lawrence solves 2012 budget crisis; Indianapolis EMS to take over EMT operations

LAWRENCE, Ind. (WISH) - The city of Lawrence has solved their budget crisis: at least, for this year.

At the city council meeting Monday night, Lawrence Mayor Dean Jessup proposed a new way to get the city through the year.

He proposed an ordinance that transfers Lawrence EMT’s and equipment to Indianapolis EMS. EMT’s will become Indianapolis EMS employees. For the rest of 2012, the city of Lawrence will retain the ambulance billing revenue.

It’s a move that saves 24 EMT’s their jobs. A couple weeks ago, Mayor Jessup proposed one way to fill a $2 million dollar budget hole for 2012: to eliminate the EMT’s in the city, and allow the firefighters to do their jobs.

“I feel like I can stop sweating now,” said Chris Howrey, a Lawrence EMT. “I feel a lot of relief as far as my family.“

Dr. Charles Miramonti, Chief of EMS for Indianapolis EMS, spoke at the council meeting with a proposal for the city. He says the start up cost for Indianapolis EMS will be around $500,000, but he expects the number to even out, once Indianapolis EMS starts receiving the ambulance billing revenue in February of 2013.

“Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County will provide some start up capital to kick start the process,” said Dr. Miramonti. “We hope to recoup that capital cost over the next year, year and half.”

For the first time in months, city leaders and union leaders agree on the plan.

They say it’ll keep EMS service in the city essentially the same, with the same response times.

“We’ll still have great EMS service, I’m convinced of that,” said Mayor Dean Jessup.

“I don’t believe you’re going to notice any difference,” said Lt. Kris Kell, a Lawrence firefighter, and president of the local Union 416 in Lawrence. “You’re still going to have the proper level of personnel on those trucks, which is very important,” added Kell, talking about the fire trucks.

For six months, EMT’s will keep the Lawrence uniform. Once February of 2013 comes, the city will see different ambulances and uniforms on the streets, when it comes to EMT’s.

The mayor says this is the first of a three part process to getting the city of Lawrence to the end of the year.

He says the city council also needs to pass an extension of a tax levy for fire services for the city’s new Station 36. He says this is a levy that is available for the city because of the addition of Station 36 in 2011. The council just needs to pass a resolution.

That means homeowners in Lawrence will see an increase of $1.64 per  year for a 100,000 home .