Council Defeats Bid to Impose Ambulance Fee

The Montgomery County Council yesterday narrowly rejected an ambulance fee that County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) said is needed to help balance the budget during the economic downturn but that opponents said would discourage emergency service calls.

The 5-3 vote, with one abstention, was the council's first recorded action on the proposal, which members had unanimously tabled last year and then declined in May to include in the county's $4.4 billion budget. Leggett forced the council's hand by proposing a regulation to put the fee in place. The council had to act before today to prevent it from taking effect.

The measure, which was opposed by some residents and volunteer firefighters, would charge health insurance companies -- not county residents -- $300 to $800 for ambulance transport. The amount is similar to fees in the District and Prince George's and Fairfax counties. Visitors to Montgomery and people who work in the county but don't live there would have to pay the fee upfront and then seek reimbursement if they have insurance.

County Council President Phil Andrews (D-Gaithersburg-Rockville) said he remained skeptical of the plan and of insurers' willingness to pay for 911 calls. "About 150,000 people work in the county and don't live here and thousands visit every day, and they would have to pay," he said.

Leggett's spokesman Patrick Lacefield said the county estimates that the fee could bring in about $100 million in the next seven years. He said he expected the council would take up the measure again and eventually approve it. The county is facing a $370 million shortfall in next year's budget.

Leggett (D) has warned that he might have to cut programs and delay improving emergency services if the fee is not approved. The administration estimates the fee would raise about $14 million in its first year.

Assistant Fire Chief Scott Graham said the funds would benefit the fire and rescue service, which he said is unable to replace 16 ambulances that need immediate replacing.

Eric N. Bernard, executive director of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association, said his organization will continue to fight the fee.

"Unless somebody can bring some evidence that can refute the fact that call volumes go down when there is a fee attached, I have to believe that council members who oppose the fee will continue to oppose it."

Voting against the fee were Andrews (D-Gaithersburg-Rockville), Roger Berliner (D-Potomac-Bethesda), Valerie Ervin (D-Silver Spring), Nancy Navarro (D-Eastern County) and Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At Large). Voting in favor were Marc Elrich (D-At Large), Michael Knapp (D-Upcounty) and George L. Leventhal (D-At Large). Nancy Floreen abstained; she voted earlier for an unsuccessful Leventhal motion to extend the debate for six months.