PRO: BCEMS works to resolve deficit, preserve services

Last November marked a turning point for Bonner County EMS after the emergency service district learned it was facing an emergency deficit of funds and would be forced to chart a new course forward.  

Despite controversies surrounding the lack of funds, there was one main issue at play — how would the emergency service district continue to help the community without reducing its services? 

County commissioners determined that the district had been improperly treated like a county department for 20 years; the county and the district kickstarted the process of separating from one another in January while retaining the same governing board. 

To keep the district running and serving the community, the board agreed in November 2024 that BCEMS would apply for a tax anticipation note. The TAN loan would allow the district to pull money from a loan amount of $2 million until January 2026. So far, the district has pulled $500,000 from the TAN, with an extra $1.5 million available for the rest of the year. 

With a safety net in place, the district continues to see expenses drop as staff aim to only work off of necessities. Since the first of the year, the district has saved money due to the voluntary departure of four full-time personnel, eliminating the need for a reduction of force.  

“Everything we have financially is used for patient care,” said Chief Jeff Lindsey. “Anything we can cut, we’re cutting.” 

At the end of March, the district had an estimated $1,408,366 in cash, over $600,000 more than it was projected to have. At the end of the fiscal year, the district is estimated to have over $884,000 in available cash. Although there will likely be available cash in the budget, the district will probably apply for a TAN in 2026 to ensure a safety net of funds, district officials said.  

A recently approved fee increase will also help the district’s financial position, having the potential to increase billing revenue by at least 10%.  

“We are in a much better financial position now, much better,” said Lindsey. “I can only thank the fact that we have employees that have been resilient. I’ve got a deputy chief that makes sure that we’re only running what we need to run ... We’re going in a positive direction.” 

As it stands, BCEMS is currently staffed with 29 full-time employees who have stayed with the district despite its financial struggles. Lindsey said that every position in the EMS agency is a working position, meaning that everyone is equipped and trained to run calls when needed. He said he appreciates EMS staff, stating they’re “extremely resilient” and truly enjoy treating and taking care of people.  

It’s a balancing act for the ambulance district as staff work to reduce expenses and find external services that aren’t county affiliated. However, over the last four months, BCEMS has established its own legal representation and bookkeeping services, Lindsey said.  

In future meetings, the board is expected to compare insurance options for the district. The board continues to research outside services such as training, administrative and legal structure to further aid in distinguishing itself from the district.