County ambulance to be remounted; commissioners say cost fits existing stipend, no additional appropriation required

The Washington County Council received an informational update that the county’s ambulance service will remount an ambulance at an estimated cost of roughly $205,000 and that the expense will be covered by the service stipend — not through an additional county appropriation.

Mister Ewan told the council that remounting (fitting a new chassis and cabin to an existing box) will cost around $205,000, well under the price of a complete new ambulance, which he said can approach $400,000. He said the ambulance board voted unanimously to proceed and that no council vote was required because the cost fits within the stipend’s budgeted amount.

"This will not be an additional appropriation," Mister Ewan said, and he advised the council the process will likely take 18 months from order to delivery. Council members confirmed they were being informed for transparency and that payment will not be required until the unit is delivered.

The presenter noted the stipend historically has been budgeted between about $5.50 and $6.50 (unit not specified in the transcript) and said the coming-year stipend is $6.50; presenters said the remounted vehicle will be paid for from that existing stipend allocation.

Because the action does not require new funding, the council did not take a formal vote on the remount and received the item as informational.