Support the renewal for EMS

I am honored to lead Lapeer County EMS and would like to express my sincere gratitude for the steadfast support from our community over the years. We are reaching out to you now with a request for the renewal of our millage, accompanied by a modest increase. Specifically, the proposal entails renewing 0.8814 mills and adding 0.3 mills, totaling 1.18 mills. This would equal $118 a year total for an average taxable value home in Lapeer County.

Lapeer County EMS has been a municipal authority supported by local contributions since its establishment in 1969. In 2016, we sought voter approval to designate LCEMS as the county-wide ambulance service, funded by a county-wide millage. This initiative was successfully passed, as was the 2020 millage renewal, enabling LCEMS to expand its operations and staff to better serve the entire county.

The 2016 proposal included a commitment, at the request of the County Commission at the time, to waive insurance copays and deductibles for county residents. This principle is straightforward—if millage funds support ambulance staffing, why should residents face additional costs for using this essential service? Both the Commission and our administrative staff saw this as preventing double billing for a singular service.

Some question why a municipal service funded by millage is necessary when private companies may offer similar services without such funding. The distinction lies in our dedication to providing comprehensive county-wide EMS coverage, which involves substantial operational and staffing costs that exceed mere service provision.

LCEMS operates from up to 8 locations across the county, each requiring approximately $550,000 annually in payroll and benefits to maintain the 17,520 hours of coverage per unit. These costs reflect human resources expenses alone and do not encompass operational, capital, or administrative costs. The base HR costs for seven units alone total over $3.8 million annually. In 2023, our insurance billings for services provided totaled $2.3 million in net receipts. Claims that other organizations can provide similar services at no cost to taxpayers overlook the financial realities of sustaining high-quality EMS services.

Another concern raised pertains to why a Downtown Development Authority (DDA) would receive funding from an EMS millage. DDAs are special finance authorities that reinvest taxes captured within their districts to enhance designated areas. Importantly, no funds from outside these geographic boundaries are utilized.

State statute mandates that if a DDA opts to capture tax dollars, LCEMS must comply. However, residents outside the assessment district do not contribute to these funds.

Lapeer EMS is not merely an ambulance company; we are a municipal public service agency, akin to fire and police departments, dedicated to serving our community during its most critical moments.

With deepest appreciation,
— Russ Adams