By Susan Weich
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TROY, Mo. — Directors for the Lincoln County Ambulance District decided Wednesday to continue rolling base closures in the wake of the second defeat of a tax initiative.
Earlier this month, voters turned down a 35-cent tax hike per $100 of assessed valuation, which would have cost the owner of a $100,000 home $66.48 more a year.
The same proposal was overwhelmingly defeated in August.
The district is having money problems because of a drop in revenue from property and sales taxes, officials say.
It began rotating base closures after the ballot issue lost the first time.
Before the cutback, the minimum staffing for any day was 11 — two medics per ambulance and one supervisor. Now the minimum staffing is nine.
A study determined that two or more people are off due to illness or vacation about 17 days a month. During these days, the district shuts down a base instead of filling in the schedule with part-time paramedics. The supervisor determines which base to close, and a sign is posted at the base to notify residents.
If no one calls in sick or is scheduled to be off, the district is fully staffed that day.
Chief Administrator Ray Antonacci said the change saved the district $9,870 for the month of October.
The district operates five ambulances out of four bases in Troy, Winfield, Elsberry and Auburn. Troy, the busiest base, houses two ambulances.
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