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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Balderas

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2-4-06

HB 619

SHORT TITLE Mora County Ambulance Services

SB

ANALYST Hadwiger

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$60.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

Department of Health (DOH)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 619 appropriates $60 thousand from the general fund to the Local Government Divi-

sion (LGD) of the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) in FY07 to contract for

ambulance services in Mora County.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $60 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY07 would revert to

the general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

DFA noted that Mora County Ambulance Service is funded annually from the State of New

Mexico from EMS funds. The director of emergency services applies for funds each year, which

are allocated based on the needs of each department. The appropriation in HB619 will be used

for operational costs of the Mora County Ambulance Service. Mora County has eight emer-

House Bill 619 – Page 2

gency medical technicians who are volunteers. In that capacity, they are required to answer

emergency calls and participate in ambulance runs. They're paid a minimal amount of compen-

sation for working in 6-hour shifts in addition to mileage and per diem for each ambulance run

made. This appropriation will assist with the operational costs associated with the volunteer

EMT's.

DOH added that the agency has designated Mora County as one of the most underserved, rural/

frontier regions of the state in terms of health care delivery, services and need. Within New Mex-

ico Emergency Medical Services Region I (14 counties of northern and northwestern New Mex-

ico) Mora County and the Interstate 25 Corridor (including San Miguel and Catron Counties) is

considered the area with the highest need for maintaining and developing EMS training, person-

nel and infrastructure. Vehicle crashes are the third leading cause of death in Mora County and

account for a major portion of the over 320 EMS responses that occur there annually. Resi-

dences are spread out and personal transportation is limited for some families. The ambulance

service is a critical safety net for both residents and tourists. The ambulance service which

serves Mora Valley is certified by the Public Regulation Commission as a Basic Life Support

ambulance service, but occasionally they provide more advanced (EMT-Intermediate) level of

response. They have a physician medical director, EMS service director and a training coordina-

tor. They respond when dispatched for all medical and traumatic health emergencies within the

Village of Mora and all of western Mora County.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

DFA indicated Mora County will be the fiscal agent of this appropriation. Mora County officials

indicate the County supports this project and has the capacity to administer this appropriation.

This appropriation will be administered by LGD/DFA, who has the capacity to fund and monitor

the project.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

DOH noted that an appropriation has been made for the past few years to Mora County to con-

tract for ambulance services. These funds have historically been administered by DOH rather

than DFA.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

DFA explained Mora County has a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in place with DFA

for budget and financial oversight. The purpose of the MOU is for the Local Government Divi-

sion to provide the County with assistance to determine financial and budget solutions to past

and current budget deficits. The MOU outlines several conservational measures for the County

to practice, to improve its financial status. The County is practicing budgetary cutbacks, as well

as seeking governmental financial assistance. One of the most extreme of the budgetary cut-

backs has been the reduction in work force. County employees' have had their work week cut

from 40 to 32 hours and elected officials' salaries have been cut by 20%. LGD is aware of the

ongoing financial hardships within Mora County and supports any financial assistance provided,

including this appropriation.

DH/mt