Poquoson proposed budget calls for increase to emergency medical service fees

April 11–The proposed budget for fiscal year 2018 suggests keeping all taxes and fees in the city the same, with one exception — an increase in fees for emergency medical services.

If approved, the increase would be the first change to the city's tax rates or fees in four years, according to the proposed budget document.

City Manager Randy Wheeler presented the proposed budget at a Monday evening City Council meeting at Poquoson City Hall. The proposed budget totals $27.7 million, about $480,000 more than the fiscal year 2017 budget.

The real estate property tax rate will remain at $1.07 per $100 of assessed value, but the city expects its revenue from real estate taxes to increase by $370,000 as a result of new development, reassessments and natural growth. The total income from real estate taxes is expected to be $16.26 million. Wheeler said the value of real estate in the city is expected to increase by 2.8 percent in the next reassessment.

The increased fees for emergency medical services would generate about $37,000, according to the proposed budget. Wheeler said the increase is on par with the fees charged in other localities and align with the allowable charges under Medicare.

The proposed Poquoson City Public Schools budget requests $195,000 more from the city to cover costs for teacher raises and more expensive health insurance.

Superintendent Jennifer Parish presented the proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 at a Tuesday evening School Board meeting…

The proposed Poquoson City Public Schools budget requests $195,000 more from the city to cover costs for teacher raises and more expensive health insurance.

Superintendent Jennifer Parish presented the proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 at a Tuesday evening School Board meeting…

The budget proposes increasing the fee per ambulance transport by $20 or $25, depending on the level of life support given. Basic life support would cost $450 per transport, and advanced life support would cost either $550 or $775. The mileage cost would go from $9 to $12 per mile.

The revenue from this increase would create funding for the city to hire a new fire and life safety employee, putting 10 employees on each of the department's three shifts, Wheeler said. He said the city also applied for a grant to fund the position and are waiting to see if the application is successful.

In addition to the new fire and life safety position, Wheeler proposed making one hire each in the police department, mosquito control and utilities. He said those hires would bring the city to a total of 148.3 full-time equivalent employees, slightly higher than the total number of employees the city had before the Great Recession.

The proposed budget also fully funds the $195,000 in increased revenue requested by the school system. That would bring the city's contribution to the school system to about $9.9 million, an increase of 2 percent over the contribution in the FY 2017 budget.

The city will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget April 24 at Poquoson City Hall. A budget is scheduled to be adopted by May 8.

Reyes can be reached by phone at 757-247-4692.

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