EMS financial request tabled as commission works on oversight and billing issues

A resolution approving an EMS financial request appeared on the Sept. 9 agenda, but council minutes record that "The EMS costs were not yet broken down for approval to the council, so no report was given." The Lodi Area EMS Commission is assisting and recently completed what the minutes describe as an operational audit; commissioners said they are developing oversight parameters to avoid future budgeting problems.

Council took no formal financial action because staff lacked a detailed cost breakdown. The commission indicated that the number of full-time staff and billing issues are likely contributors to the EMS shortfall; the council directed staff and the commission to continue work and report back with specific financial proposals and documentation.