Thank You For Visiting Central Bucks Ambulance

HOW TO SAVE A LIFE
Few things in life are as important as access to good health care. In Central Bucks County, we are privileged to have excellent medical professionals and services, and Central Bucks Ambulance is proud to be among them. Our EMTs and paramedics have the knowledge, skills and training to respond to a wide range of medical crises, 24 hours a day.

We have not received any dedicated local tax money to help support these services. As many residents may know, Central Bucks Ambulance has asked our local governments to help fund the squad on a regular basis so we aren’t faced with failing equipment when it is needed most-during a medical emergency.
Our municipal leaders in Doylestown and Buckingham Townships have heard our plea and placed on the November ballot a referendum for ¼ mill tax dedicated to Emergency Medical Services funding. This special tax will go towards the purchase and upkeep of Capital equipment and supplies. The tax will cost less than $13 per year per household.

Central Bucks Ambulance operates 24 hours/7days from two stations, our main station located in Doylestown Borough and the other in Wycombe. In 2007 we responded to over 4200 calls for help.

Our operational revenue is derived from 2 sources, insurance billing and our yearly subscription plan which is mailed out each fall. The plan allows residents to contribute a small fee in lieu of any out of pocket expenses not covered by insurance.
Unfortunately, these two sources have not generated the needed funds to create a Capital Reserve purchase plan. Voting yes on November 4th will ensure a dedicated means of yearly income needed to purchase life saving supplies and equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the referendum question and where will it appear on the ballot?
A: Ambulance Squad Tax Referendum

Shall the Township levy an annual real estate tax
of one quarter (1/4) mill for the purpose of funding
Ambulance, rescue and other emergency services serving
the Township?

YES or NO

Plain English Statement

The ballot question asks the voters of the Township
whether the Township should assess an annual tax of one
Quarter (1/4) mill, which is equal to no dollars and 2 1/2 cents
Per $1000.00 of assessed valuation of taxable real property, for
the purpose of funding ambulance, rescue, and other
emergency services serving Buckingham Township.

The referendum question will appear at the very top of the ballot on November 4th, the day of the General Election.

Q: Why a tax referendum?
A: As with the Fire Tax, EMS is looking for a dedicated funding source to provide for Capitol purchases. No tax money has ever been used to support EMS. Our operational budget is derived from two sources, insurance billing and our yearly subscription plan. Unfortunately, these two sources have not generated the needed funds to create a Capital purchase plan. The rising cost of fuel, equipment and personnel expenses, coupled with the increasing demand for more advanced medical procedures has required sophisticated training and equipment. This continued advancement in emergency medicine certainly benefits our patients but comes at a cost to us.

Q: What will the referendum cost me?
A: The average household will pay less than $13 per year.

Q: What is the $52 EMS tax that I pay through my employer?
A: In 2006, Pennsylvania allowed municipalities to enact an Emergency MUNICIPAL Services tax which encompassed emergency service (Fire, Police and EMS) road repair and “emergency municipal services”. None of this money was given to EMS. For the most part, it allocated to the municipal police budget and road repair. The Emergency Services community, with the help of our state government, had the name of this tax changed in 2007 to the Local Services Tax to more appropriately reflect where this money is spent.

Q: Do other municipalities provide funding for EMS?
A: Yes. All municipalities served by Central Bucks Ambulance have already enacted some form of dedicated EMS tax based funding. New Britain Borough and New Britain Township levy a ½ mil EMS tax as well as providing 25% of their Local Service Tax towards EMS. Doylestown Borough provides a percentage of their Local Services Tax to EMS and Wrightstown Township allocates ½ mil to EMS.

Q: What is a Subscription Plan?
A: The Subscription Plan is mailed out each fall and allows residents to contribute a small fee in lieu of any out- of- pocket expenses not covered by their insurance plan.

Q: Why a tax now, when you never had one before?
A: Unfortunately, over the past few years, the insurance billing and subscription plan revenue have not generated the needed funds to provide for Capital purchases. The rising cost of fuel, equipment and personnel expenses, coupled with the increasing demand for more advanced emergency medical procedures, has required sophisticated training and equipment that can not be paid for out of our operating budget.

Q: Why pay for a subscription plan if we are paying taxes?
A: The subscription plan has always been part of our operating budget. Along with our insurance billing, this has been the source of our funding. Unfortunately, these two sources have not generated the needed funds to create a Capital purchase plan. The tax revenue will ensure a dedicated source of funding for equipment and ambulances.

Q: How will the funding be spent?
A: This dedicated funding will provide a source for Capital purchases. Specifically, our 10 year capital plans call for the timely purchase of ambulances ($76,000), heart monitors ($25,000), Litters ($4,000), Personnel Protective Equipment ($700), Autovent ($2,600), and AED ($2,200). As it stands today, our Personnel Protective Equipment dates back to 1992, and our ambulances are 8-10 years old and well past the industry standard of 5-year replacement. All of our heart monitors are due to be replaced and sophisticated 12 lead heart monitoring equipment is budgeted but not obtainable with our limited funds.