Public meeting at   

Ray Robison Community Hall

 201 W Wall St 

Our mission

The East Boise County Ambulance EMS District is dedicated to providing exceptional emergency medical services with compassion, professionalism, and integrity. We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community by delivering prompt, high-quality care in times of need. Through continuous training, community engagement, and collaboration, we strive to enhance the health and resilience of East Boise County, always ready to serve with excellence.

Collaboration and Teamwork

Continuous Improvement

Excellence in Care

Integrity and Transparency

The Current Challenge

o The East Boise County Ambulance District (EBCAD) currently provides emergency services to 68.4% of Boise County, covering 1,300 square miles. including 90 miles of State Highway 21 

o Ambulance Fleet: 4 units stationed in Placerville, Lowman, Idaho City, and Wilderness Ranch, Usually there are only enough staff available to have one ambulance in service, and the district struggles to even do that. 

o Responding to 293 calls in 2024 thus far, a 11% increase from the previous year, EBCAD is struggling to maintain 24/7 ambulance coverage due to insufficient funding and staffing.

o EBCAD only has 2 full time employees, including the director, and 2 part-time employees, that cover a total of 128 hours per week, or 38% of what is required, meaning the remainder of the time volunteers are needed. To fully staff an ambulance for one week, 336  hours are required (at least 1 EMT and 1 driver, 24 hours a day). 

o EBCAD has 49 volunteers; however, fewer than half of that roster is active. 

o The newest ambulance dates back to 2017. All our ambulances have had high maintenance costs. This year, repairs for three of our ambulances totaled $31,253.05, with our primary units requiring the most extensive work. Due to these necessary repairs, Units 14 and 15 were out of service for approximately three months.

Funding limitations have led to a reliance on cash reserves, which are no longer sustainable.

Proposed Levy Increase:

Yes, the new district means slightly more taxes. A new budget cannot be set until there is a district, and a board selected after the election; however, Idaho Code Section 31-3915 places a strict cap on the maximum levy an ambulance district may impose at .04%. This means that with a new district, the maximum homeowners will be taxed is $40 per every $100,000 in assessed value, meaning a $500,000 would pay a maximum of $200 per year and a $1,000,000 would pay a maximum of $400 per year. This will only be a $27 increase per 100,000 of assessed property value. The new district will replace the current district it is not and addition too the current district. 

· EBCAD cannot continue providing 24/7 emergency service without the formation of a new district– increase in funding.

• No Ambulance Availability: There will be times when no  ambulance is available for emergency calls in East Boise County.
• Service from the Valley (If  Available):     In emergencies, ambulance services may need to come from the valley, significantly increasing wait times.
• Extended Response Times: Response times could increase further risking the health and safety of residents.
• Further Deterioration of  Services:  Existing ambulances, already aging, may become unreliable, increasing  maintenance costs (which may not be able to be repaired) and reducing  service efficiency.
• Inability to Attract and  Retain Staff:  Limited funding will prevent hiring additional full-time staff, leading to   burnout and difficulty maintaining 24/7 coverage
• Financial Strain: Continued reliance on   unsustainable cash reserves will exacerbate financial difficulties,  potentially leading to service reductions. EBCAD will run out of money.
• Increased Risk to Residents: The safety and well-being of East  Boise County residents could be significantly compromised without reliable    emergency services.

The WHY

· A new taxing district is replacing EBCAD, and EBCAD as we know it will no longer exist. This is not a net new taxing district, rather one is being replaced by another. 

· If this fails, there will be times when someone calls 911 and an ambulance is not coming in East Boise County, or response times will be severely extended due to ambulance coming from the Boise area. 

· The creation of a new ambulance district will ensure dedicated oversight and management by commissioners focused solely on emergency services.

· With increased funding, we can hire more full-time staff and maintain a reliable fleet of ambulances equipped with the latest life-saving technology.

Without forming a new district, EBCAD does not have the revenue to continue to provide ambulance service on a 24/7 basis.