Douglass Township is looking to change the way it funds ambulance service. The move could cost the Gilbertsville Area Community Ambulance Service nearly six figures of revenue.

            On Monday, supervisors Chairman Joshua Stouch announced during the Emergency Services Board meeting that the municipality hopes to adopt a fair funding model. If approved, ambulance companies serving township residents and businesses will be paid per call.

            The shift could leave a significant hole in GACAS' 2025 budget. Stouch estimated, based on 2024 recorded calls, that the ambulance company would receive approximately $98,000 less from the township than it did last year.  "Losing nearly $100,000 is a lot," said Angela Erb, the company's board representative. "But we'll figure it out."

            Last year, the supervisors allocated $312,500 generated through a 0.5 mill emergency services tax to the ambulance company, a private entity headquartered at 91 Jackson Road.

            Under the proposal, agencies would be compensated per call. Township Manager Andrew Duncan estimated the value of each call at $408, based on 2024 volume.

            According to Duncan, the relationship between the township and the Gilbertsville Ambulance has shown signs of deterioration. He said previously that municipal officials have lost the communications component with the service over the last six months. Additionally, the manager claims he is not sure why multiple members of the ambulance's board of directors resigned abruptly.

            Initially, the supervisors voted to implement the EMS tax following the June 9, 2023 arrest of Gary Schmoltze, the service's former chief of operations on theft charges, to help it remain sustainable, according to Duncan. He described that effort as a huge success. 

            Municipal officials identified Gilbertsville and the Bally Community Ambulance Association as the township's primary providers. Last year, the township received 786 total ambulance calls. Gilbertsville's crews handled 525 of them, according to information provided by the township manager.

            Nine other ambulance companies responded to Douglass Township last year. Bally handled 95 calls, while Boyertown covered 85 and two crews from Goodwill, located in Pottstown, handled 55 overall. The Upper Perk Ambulance responded to five calls in the municipality.

            During the meeting, Stouch – a committee member and former vice chair – announced that he wants the supervisors to consider the funding change. He directed Duncan to place it on an upcoming meeting agenda.

            If approved, the money will be distributed on June 1 and Dec. 1 based on calls accumulated during the previous six months. Entities with first-due coverage in the township – Gilbertsville and Bally – will be required to submit monthly reports, the IRS form identifying it as a tax-exempt organization, the most recent audited financial statement, an annual budget and a roster of all current employees.

            All other ambulance entities will be required to submit a copy of the tax-exempt document, the most recent audited financial statement and a roster of all current employees, according to an EMS Fair Funding Model document presented during the committee meeting.