Ambulance subscription fee increases for non-residents
HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 5 months AGO
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | May 21, 2018 9:12 AM
Whitefish is increasing the fee paid by non-city residents for membership in its ambulance subscription program.
The RescueCare program allows city residents and non-residents to pay an annual fee for ambulance service. The membership covers an entire household against the cost for emergency and medically necessary ambulance service in and around Whitefish.
City Council last week approved an increase to $185. The fee was previously $79, which was set in May 2000 when the program began.
City residents or property owners can subscribe for $59 per year. That rate is not changing.
Fire Chief Joe Page said the cost of maintaining ambulance service including the vehicles, equipment, and paramedic level staffing is huge and the taxpayers of the city of Whitefish have supported it.
The average home in Whitefish has a taxable value of $250,000 and contributes about $180 annually to the Fire Department budget, which is broken down between emergency medical services and fire. The average property owner pays about $126 toward the EMS budget, and those outside the city pay into the Flathead County EMS system.
Page said as a result city property owners are contributing a disproportionate amount compared to non-residents for equal service.
As a result, Page recommended adjusting the non-resident fee to match the contribution by city residents.
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