Page 14 - Flathead Beacon // 1.27.16

NEWS
CITY BEAT
KALISPELL
City Increases Ambulance Fees to Address Mounting Costs
Hoping to eliminate the city’s subsidy of its emergency medical services and address mounting costs, the Kalispell City Council approved a rate increase for ambulance patients.
Last week, The council unanimously voted to hike fees for the variety of emer- gency medical services provided by the Kalispell Fire Department. The council also approved a new measure that now charges higher fees for people living out- side city limits who do not pay property taxes in Kalispell. The rates will increase annually based on the latest Consumer Price Index, which measures changes in market costs.
The increases impact a wide range of services for the treatment and
FLATHEAD
Montana Tourist Numbers Up, Spending Down in 2015
An estimated 11.7 million people visited Montana in 2015, an 8 percent increase over the previous year, accord- ing to preliminary data compiled by the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana.
The nonresident visitors spent almost $3.6 billion in the Treasure State last year, an 8 percent decrease over 2014. Initial observations indicate that the decrease in spending may be attributed, in large part, to lower fuel prices, accord- ing to analysts.
Though spending did not reach the record levels of 2014, the bene ts of trav- el-related spending coming into the state still ripple throughout the economy, sup- porting more than 37,000 jobs directly and 52,750 jobs in total, according to the ITRR. Nonresidents contributed more than $208 million in state and local taxes in 2015.
Despite the decrease in overall state- wide spending, many business owners reported an increase in customers during the past year on a recent ITRR survey. Of the tourism-related business owners sur- veyed this fall, 59 percent saw an increase in visitation or customers in 2015, while 19 percent reported seeing a decrease.
Of those businesses that bene ted from increased visitation, 33 percent had a signi cant increase – more than 10 per- cent over 2014. Looking forward, 61 per- cent of the businesses responding to the
transportation of those who are sick or injured. For basic emergency life support, the cost will rise from $700 to $913.54 for city residents and $1,163.54 for non-resi- dents. The cost of advanced life support 1 will jump from $880 to $1,072.77 for res- idents and $1,322.77 for non-residents. Basic treatment that does not require an ambulance ride, which previously did not come at a price, will now cost $101.30 for residents and $351.30 for nonresidents.
The increases are the rst since 2009 and aim to eliminate growing cost over- runs in the re department that are then covered, or subsidized, by Kalispell’s gen- eral fund.
City Manager Doug Russell said the new rate structure would allow the re department to meet its operating costs and provide for future capital needs, such as equipment.
ITRR survey expect to see their visitation increase in 2016.
In 2015, spending on gasoline by non- residents was down 36 percent compared to 2014. With gasoline so inexpensive, people can travel more often and likely took more weekend trips, increasing the total number of visitors to Montana, ITRR analysts stated.
Additionally, the decrease in the value of the Canadian dollar has contributed to less spending by Montana’s northern neighbors, who typically represent about 14 percent of all nonresident visitors to the state. While they are still visiting Montana, their spending appears to have tapered o over the past year, according to ITRR.
All information and reports published by ITRR are available online at www.itrr. umt.edu.
FLATHEAD
New Jail Still Years O for County
The future of a larger Flathead County jail is still in limbo, but the possibility of housing the new detention center in the old Walmart building in Evergreen is potentially back on the table.
Last year, the county pursued pur- chasing the empty building as a solution to an increasingly packed jail. The county has had plans for a new facility for years, and had developed a seven-year plan to save up to $20 million needed to build a new jail.
But given the consistent jail over- crowding – last weekend saw the highest
Councilor Phil Gui rida said he sup- ported the increases because the previ- ous rate structure put a heavier burden on residents who pay the same price as non-residents while also covering any further subsidy through property taxes. The new rate structure will also allow the re department to “provide a level of ser- vice we want for our constituents,” Guif- frida said.
Richard Hull, a resident of Kalispell, voiced his opposition during the Jan. 19 meeting, saying the increases will impact insurance rates.
“Ambulance calls are extremely expensive,” Richard Hull said. “You need to think more about the public and what you’re providing rather than making this into a business decision.”
City leaders have grappled with the EMS program in recent years as call loads
continue to rise annually and deferred capital improvement projects stack up.
Kalispell is the only remaining large city in Montana with a public EMS pro- gram; others have turned to privatized services.
City o cials have debated the possi- bility of privatizing its EMS program but opted against it, saying the current setup provides a quality service that is reason- ably priced for residents.
The city proposed a mill levy in 2014 that sought $736,000 annually. Voters narrowly rejected the request by 188 votes, with 3,101 against — 52 percent — and 2,913 in favor.
The number of calls the re depart- ment received increased 3 percent in 2015 over the previous year, according to Chief Dave Dedman.
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NEWS
COUNTY BEAT
14
JANUARY 27, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM
Flathead County Justice Center. FLATHEAD BEACON FILE PHOTO ever number of inmates at 124 – Flathead
County administrator Mike Pence said the county may have to move up its timeline.
That won’t mean a jail is built in the next year though, he said, and this situa- tion is going to take time. The county did not receive a $45,000 federal grant that would have helped pay for planning a new jail or selecting a site.
The county o ered $2.8 million for the 130,000-square-foot building in Evergreen, looking like it had the deal wrapped up, but by September, the coun- ty’s o er was turned down when a new buyer came on the scene.
Now, that speci c deal looks like it
could fall through as well, and Pence said the county is still interested in the building.
“They know what our position is,” Pence said of the sellers. “We made an o er that was based on an appraisal that we can’t go above.”
While the Walmart building might have a nice shell, the inside would have to be completely di erent, Pence said, and building a jail is an expensive enterprise. The county may reapply for the planning grant when a new scal year dawns in July, Pence said, but it will depend on its situation at the time.
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