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collected and fund reserves had steadily declined since 2000, with the exception of 2006, when a rate <br />increase was implemented. Funding sources for FY09 consisted of: <br /> <br />? <br /> General fund: 75 percent. <br />? <br /> Ambulance Transport Fund: 21 percent. <br />? <br /> Other funds: 4 percent. <br /> <br />Chief Murphy asserted the City of Springfield faced similar challenges to those of the City of Eugene and <br />provided a review of Lane County ASA 5. ASA 5 consisted of a large rural area that covered 2,000 square <br />miles and responded to 8,557 calls for service in FY08. System issues facing Springfield included: <br /> <br />? <br /> Operating expenses continued to outpace revenues. <br />? <br /> Revenue from FireMed and contract billing was used to help offset the inadequate Medicare and <br />Medicaid reimbursement for ambulance services. <br />? <br /> Ambulance personnel were essential for minimum firefighter staffing. <br />? <br /> If not for ambulance user and membership fees, what other sources of revenue could be used to <br />provide the current level of fire department incident response coverage? <br /> <br />Chief Murphy explained that the Springfield Fire and Life Safety operated with three multi-role medic units <br />and one overload company. Approximately 38 percent of dollars billed were collected and fund reserves <br />had steadily declined since 2000. Funding sources for FY09 consisted of: <br /> <br />? <br /> General fund: 61 percent. <br />? <br /> Ambulance Transport Fund: 31 percent. <br />? <br /> Other funds: 8 percent. <br /> <br />Chief Murphy emphasized the three ambulance companies backed each other up with borrowed equipment <br />which provided significantly enhanced depth that would otherwise not be available. Statistically, demand <br />in Eugene and Springfield did not occur simultaneously, providing the ability to provide backup for the <br />other jurisdiction. <br /> <br />Chief Borland averred Lane Rural Fire/Rescue faced similar challenges to those of the cities of Eugene and <br />Springfield, and provided a review of Lane County ASA 8. ASA 8 consisted of a large rural area that <br />covered 2,000 square miles and responded to 2,294 calls for service in FY08. System issues facing Lane <br />Rural Fire/Rescue included: <br /> <br />? <br /> Department’s current fee-supported ATS was not sustainable long term. <br />? <br /> At what level should the general fund continue to support medical response and transport? <br />? <br /> Were there alternative funding sources? <br /> <br />Chief Borland explained Lane Rural Fire/Rescue operated with two dual-role medic units and fire <br />suppression and emergency medical response provided by approximately 60 volunteer firefighters. <br />Approximately 45 percent of dollars billed were collected and expenditures were outpacing revenues. <br />Funding sources for FY09 consisted of: <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />MINUTES—Joint Elected Officials— January 27, 2009 Page 4 <br /> Lane Board of County Commissioners, Lane Rural Fire/Rescue Board of Directors and Eu- <br />gene and Springfield City Councils <br /> <br />