State Task force talks EMS funding
Updated: December 13, 2012
SPRINGFIELD -- Many rural EMS services are running on bare bone budgets, making it pretty tough for them to stay afloat. Now, a state task force is working on a way to rescue them.
It wants to take $40 million from the gambling bill, if passed, and use it to create a fund for EMS services. It's just an idea for now, but many hope it'll actually happen.
"They have to rely on tax funding, they have to rely on in some cases bake sales, and all kinds of things to raise money,"said Siltman."
It's not a done deal just yet. Lawmakers still need to vote on the gambling bill. Unless they pass it, this plan won't happen.
Governor Quinn wants any revenue from it to go towards education.
It wants to take $40 million from the gambling bill, if passed, and use it to create a fund for EMS services. It's just an idea for now, but many hope it'll actually happen.
"If there were other funding available it would sure make things a lot easier," said Steve Siltman. He runs the Logan County Paramedic Association. The former first responder knows all about budget cuts. It's an issue many agencies are dealing with these days.
"And it gets worse and worse as time goes on. We have to make adjustments for that and we do that by raising our rates of course," he said.
But, he says smaller services aren't able to do that. Instead, having to find other ways to make ends meet."They have to rely on tax funding, they have to rely on in some cases bake sales, and all kinds of things to raise money,"said Siltman."
It's not a done deal just yet. Lawmakers still need to vote on the gambling bill. Unless they pass it, this plan won't happen.
Governor Quinn wants any revenue from it to go towards education.
