Council presses chief on city ambulance operations, billing and next steps for expansion

Everett City Council on March 1 pressed the fire department for data on the city-operated ambulance's performance and finances as members weigh whether to expand the service.

Chief Hickey said the ambulance has responded to just over 1,200 calls since its inception and that approximately 71% of those were transports. A basic life-support transport (BLS) is billed at about $1,300, and higher rates apply when advanced life-support (ALS) interventions are required; the department uses a third‑party billing company, Comstar, which the chief said has an 80–90% return rate on billed amounts. Hickey told councilors he is still reconciling billed amounts with the treasurer and expects a reconciliation report at month end.

Councilors pressed on finances and operations: members asked whether revenue generated so far covers operating costs, whether grants exist to subsidize apparatus or staffing, and whether the city can sustain a second ambulance. Councilors also cited call volume to the Encore casino (nearly 700 calls in 2023) as a significant driver of workload and urged consideration of a public‑safety presence in that area. Chief Hickey acknowledged that the program is new, that more time and data are needed to determine profitability, and that finding grants for apparatus is possible but requires additional research.

Several councilors raised public‑safety and equity concerns, noting that while profitability is desirable, response-time improvements and reliability are primary goals. The council asked the chief to provide detailed billing and revenue reconciliation, per-call cost estimates, and potential grant options as a follow-up.

Next procedural step: Council referred the resolution requesting operational statistics back to the sponsor for additional information and follow-up reporting; the clerk will coordinate the requested reconciliation and further departmental reports.