The city of Benton Harbor could ask voters to approve an extra millage to help pay for ambulance services now that Medic 1 Ambulance is implementing a new fee structure that will increase the city’s costs.
Speaking to the Legislative Committee this week, City Manager Alex Little said the increase being faced by Benton Harbor isn’t fair, considering all the things that factor into Medic 1’s costs. However, the reality remains that the ambulance service is raising rates.
“The rate that Benton Harbor was paying was $100,133 a year,” Little said. “They increased it to $256,964, which is $156,831 more. The same thing happened with the township.”
Benton Township’s yearly cost will rise by more than $200,000. City Commissioner Sharon Henderson slammed Medic 1’s decision.
“This is wrong and it should not be happening,” Henderson said. “So all the Black communities are getting 150 or more increase, both predominantly Black communities. That’s ridiculous.”
The city of St. Joseph is seeing costs rise by about $60,000, while Little noted a handful of rural communities and New Buffalo city and township are seeing decreases. In the case of Benton Harbor, he said the city budget cannot absorb those new costs.
“If we’re going to address this at all, which we cannot do with the budget — there’s no way, the money’s not there — then we may need to look at putting a millage on and letting people vote on it.”
The proposed millage increase is 0.8 mills for property owners. The city will have to act fast to get this question on the August ballot.
The committee sent the matter to the city Public Safety Committee for further discussion.
