Public Comment Sought on Ambulance Cutbacks

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Dec. 12, 2000, 10:04PM

Public comment sought on ambulance cutbacks

By HARVEY RICE

Copyright 2000 Houston Chronicle

CONROE -- Taking a cue from a failed tax-rollback effort, Montgomery

County Hospital District trustees Tuesday began a process that will seek public

comment on cutting back emergency medical services.

The board's External Affairs Committee has asked district staff to

come up with a plan by Jan. 1 on involving the public in deciding how the cuts

should be made, committee chairman Monte West told the board.

" I do not want to place us in a position in which we are criticized

for making decisions in a vacuum, " Emergency Medical Services Director

told the board as he outlined possible cutbacks.

Trustee Marie Wilcoxson asked, " You don't think you received a

message from voters? "

replied, " We certainly received 13,271 strong voices, "

referring to the number of verified signatures on petitions seeking to force a

tax-rollback election.

The petitions, verified Sunday, fell 2,563 signatures short of about

15,800 needed.

The petition drive began after the hospital district in August

increased its tax rate from 7.85 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to 13.78

cents, or about $55.34 on the average home value of $85,213.

No vote was taken Tuesday, but there were no objections to going

forward with the committee proposal. The full board would receive a staff

proposal for consideration in January but would not necessarily vote on a

proposal then.

Under a tentative process outlined by , the process would be

incorporated in the budgeting process that begins early next year.

District spokesman Lambert said options included cutting

back on the number of ambulances that would be purchased to accommodate a

rapidly growing population and using equipment in a different way.

For example, patients with minor injuries who once would have been

transported to the hospital could be refused.

Lambert said public participation could consist of focus groups,

discussion groups or advisory boards.

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