PA Ambulance Service Asks For Financial Help

SouthBridge EMS, the ambulance service provider for Cecil and South Fayette townships and Bridgeville, is in some financial distress due COVID-19.

Executive Director Daniel Miller said patient transports dropped by 40% in March and April.

Calls also went from an average of 230 per month to about 150, and transportation revenue is estimated to be down this year by at least $230,000.

The loss does not account for any decreases in donations or subscription drive fundraising.

"That's a substantial drop in patient revenue," Miller said. "We're crossing our fingers on going forward. It's getting bad."

So bad that for the first time since its establishment in 1971, the ambulance company has reached out to South Fayette officials for help.

It has requested $47,000 in financial assistance for operations and equipment.

South Fayette board President Gwen Rodi said the commissioners were able to accommodate the request.

Their proposed final budget contains no tax increase. It is expected to be presented and adopted at their meeting Dec. 9.

"SouthBridge EMS provides an invaluable service to our residents and it is important we support them," Rodi said via email. "This is the first time South Fayette Township has made a contribution."

SouthBridge EMS also requested $14,000 from Bridgeville.

Bridgeville Manager Joe Kauer said Thursday that his council is only able to allocate $7,500 to the ambulance company as the borough finalizes its 2021 budget, which also does not include a tax increase.

"Some revenue did better and some expenditures were cut," Kauer said. "It was able to get done that way."

Bridgeville's budget is expected to be adopted Dec. 14.

Cecil gave $50,000 to SouthBridge EMS this year and has budgeted the same for 2021.

"They are the preferred provider of ambulance service for our community," Cecil Manager Donald Gennuso said Thursday. "The board believes in their services, and I believe helping them with expenditures keeps them in our community providing services to our residents."

Cecil officials are expected to finalize next year's spending plan with no tax increase on Monday.

The EMS company has about 24 employees, among them paramedics and EMTs. It costs about $1.5 million annually to operate.

It was able to secure a $150,000 Small Business Administration loan to help offset losses, and a $13,000 FEMA grant toward new respirators.

Miller said the municipal contributions would go a long way.

"When the budget's kind of tight you hold off on replacing things," he said. "It's definitely going to be a good thing for us to solidify our response."

More information about SouthBridge EMS and how to donate is available at southbridgeems.com.

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