Call To Order
Roll Call
Committee Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m.
in a hybrid meeting.
7 -
Present:
Elizabeth Boyle, Barry Buchanan, Ben Elenbaas, Kaylee Galloway, Jessica
Rienstra, Jon Scanlon, and Mark Stremler
Announcements
Special Presentation
1.
Presentation from Whatcom County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and
Whatcom County Fire District 7 regarding EMS and Ground Emergency Medical
Transportation updates
The following people read from a presentation (on file):
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Debbie Arthur, Executive's Office, and speaking as the EMS
Administrator
Ben Russell, Fire District 7 Assistant Chief of Operations
Arthur spoke about how Emergency Medical Services levy funds are
invested (top expenses) and top sources of revenue, a year-end summary of
the fund for 2025, that revenues were 10 percent above what was budgeted
but that there should be caution going forward since some revenues are
more unpredictable than others, cost-cutting measures they have instituted
so far this year (reduction of one staff member), that they have been
aligning staff with the priorities of the levy and the system, and that they
have proposed a draft reserve policy for 2026-2028 that outlines the
purpose for the fund reserve and establishes a replenishment policy if they
go below the reserve target.
She answered why 2025 revenues exceeded the budget, and stated they
received $2.5 million of revenue that they did not expect from Ground
Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) and medical fees that were
paid back by individuals.
She continued the presentation on their core financial risks and EMS
governance and membership.
Russell gave an overview of Ground Emergency Medical Transportation
(GEMT) program (including payment timing and reconciliation, and
long-term sustainability). He answered questions about reimbursements for
GEMT eligible transports, if the work on the accounting side for those
could be done more collectively or if any centralized resources could be
used, if there is training from the state on processing the reimbursements,
