County official warns ambulance service funding at risk after $53 million loss since 2009

A county official told the meeting that Williamson County is responsible for ambulance service by state law and emphasized that responsibility is distinct from Williamson Health. "The county's responsible for ambulance service in Williamson County. By state law. By state law, not Williamson Health," the official said.

The official said the county has "lost" about $53 million since 2009 and warned the shortfall is "not going unnoticed," asking rhetorically what would happen "if the hospital just decided at their next meeting to say we're not going to do this anymore?" The transcript records the official pressing the point that the county must consider the risk if a hospital or provider withdrew ambulance services.

A separate comment in the excerpt praised the hospital team: "Michael and his team provide the most amazing service I've been around in my career," and the speaker added that the county "can't provide it at a loss." The transcript does not provide detail on how the $53 million figure was calculated, what time span or accounts it includes, or whether the county has a plan to replace lost revenue.

No formal motion, vote, or directive appeared in the provided excerpt. The remarks in the transcript framed the matter as a budgetary and service-delivery concern but did not record any new policy or funding action.