By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            Due to skyrocketing prices for new ambulances, Levy County Commissioners Tuesday asked Department of Public Safety Director Mitch Harrell to evaluate options for financing the $602,000 cost of buying two of the vehicles.

            Harrell said he has two ambulances on order from last fall that cost the county $218,000 each, but he said the price tag has risen by more than $80,000 per vehicle and could go higher if the board delays the purchase.

            He said the cost of an ambulance ordered next year could go as high as $350,000 per vehicle or higher.

            “Coming to you and asking you to spend this much on ambulances really, really bothers me, but I know it’s not getting any cheaper and if we don’t get on this, we won’t have chances next year,” Harrell said. “The ambulances we ordered in the fall, they haven’t got chassis yet. This is common throughout the county.”

            Harrell said the price he was quoted for the new ambulances is based on an “irrevocable letter of purchase” from the manufacturer locking in the price of the two new ambulances at $301,000 each.

            County Attorney Nicolle Shalley said she would have to review the letter but she said the county can’t finance a purchase beyond this fiscal year without the ability to terminate the contract if it chooses to do so. She said there’s always been a provision in Florida law that says any obligation the board gets beyond the current year fiscal year when it has funds available, must include the option to cancel the purchase.

            With that in mind, Commissioner Matt Brooks said he would like Harrell to return with a list of financing options for the board to consider. Brooks wondered if delaying the financing decision could affect the price.

            Harrell wasn’t certain whether the price might change. He hopes to be able to contact the manufacturer and return with financing options to the next board meeting.  He was apologetic about something he can’t control – the price of ambulances.

            “I’ve never seen a problem like this in my career in 37 years of doing this. We’re looking at supply chain issues that should have been on the decline by now but it doesn’t appear to be,” Harrell said.

            Levy County ambulances currently are equipped with bunker gear for firefighting and many paramedics and EMTs are dual certified to treat patients and fight fires. Last year 115 fires in rural Levy County were fought by ambulance firefighters. They receive a supplement for being dual certified.

            “We may have to take fire apparatus off the trucks. I’m not saying we want to do it,” said Commissioner John Meeks. “We’re going to have to find a way to lighten up trucks (ambulances), go to something different, smaller and lighter.”

            “I hate to put this out there in public view but it is something we need to consider. Basically, we’re paying for two ambulances what we paid for three ambulances before,” Meeks said.

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Board of County Commission Regular Meeting May 3, 2022; Posted May 3, 2022