BOCC approves emergency loan to save Bonner County EMS
Bonner County EMS received a funding lifeline at an emergency Bonner County commissioners meeting Friday, Nov. 8.
The board unanimously passed a resolution to have Bonner County apply for a tax anticipation loan in the amount of $2 million to fund Bonner County EMS. The loan would act as a safety net for Bonner County EMS, allowing them to operate until late January when they receive a tranche of funds from taxes.
Bonner County EMS were informed that they had run out of money Thursday at around noon, according to Bonner County EMS Chief Jeff Lindsey.
The lack of funds caught Lindsey off-guard. He said Bonner County EMS had been operating inside its budget; however, the cash in Bonner County’s EMS accounts did not match up with that budget. Lindsey even brought forward emails from the previous county comptroller that indicated his cash flow should “smooth out” in 2025, leaving him no reason to suspect Bonner County EMS was so cash strapped.
“I can look at my budget all day long — which I have been doing, I watch it like a hawk — and think I’m doing amazing, or EMS is in a good position,” Lindsey said. “And then yesterday happens, where you find out that you are going to be closing the doors in a couple of weeks.”
“I can take my budget right now and burn it. It doesn’t mean anything to me,” Lindsey continued. “What makes a difference to me is the cash flow. If I don’t have cash in my account, we can’t do anything.”
The county added an extra $401,000 from the Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund on Thursday to keep Bonner County EMS afloat for the immediate future.
According to Bonner County Clerk Mike Rosedale that money would cover two pay cycles for EMS staff, roughly a four-week period.
While the board originally looked at a potential reduction in force that would have cut six Bonner County EMS employees, they decided against that move.
Instead, they unanimously passed a resolution to pause any layoffs, choosing to retain personnel through the holidays and hold off discussing any staffing reductions until late December. It is expected that Bonner County EMS will have to reduce personnel at that time to remain fiscally viable long term.
The troubles for Bonner County EMS’ budget appear to have started when $2 million was taken out of the department’s budget to pay for part of the new Bonner County EMS building on Division Avenue.
BOCC Board Chair Asia Williams asked county officials in attendance how the previous board reached that $2 million figure or what the justification was for taking that money from the Bonner County EMS account. No one was able to answer the question.
Williams said that moving forward, there will be internal weekly meetings between the treasurer, clerk's office, EMS, and county commissioners to facilitate better communication, and public facing meetings to keep the community aware and informed of what is happening.
Community members expressed fear and anger at the revelation that Bonner County EMS was out of money, but also appreciation for the current board and county officers that were working to fix the problem.