4A |
WEDNESDAY EDITION
| MARCH 17, 2021
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
| 541-902-3520 | NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
The First Amendment
C
ongress shall make no law respect-
ing an establishment of religion or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the
press, or the right of the people peaceably
to assemble, and to petition the Govern-
ment for a redress of grievances.
“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” —Thomas Jefferson (1800)
USPS# 497-660
LETTERS
The more we understand,
the more we can do
In an interview on “All Things
Considered” on National Pub-
lic Radio (NPR) March 14, Bill
Gates, Chair of the Bill and Melin-
da Gates Foundation (B&MGF)
stated that the first step any indi-
vidual can take in combating cli-
mate challenges is to learn more
about them.
He asserted that knowing more
will, at some point, saturate the
notion that what’s happening
around the world is a political is-
sue, and bring home the fact that
the changes we are witnessing are
actually a threat to humankind
and the planet Earth.
He expressed a belief that peo-
ple who don’t believe these chal-
lenges are real simply do not
know enough about them.
The more we know and under-
stand, the more we can do.
Mr. Gates suggested that we all
start learning more — and keep
learning more — never feeling
like we have learned enough,
until many more of us can sense
the enormity of the situation and
start coalescing to determine
courses of action that will have
real impact in our respective
communities.
I suggest that we approach the
issue from a financial or econom-
ic perspective, rather than an en-
vironmental one.
Thinking about finances carries
less emotional charge. The envi-
ronmental conversation leaves
believers and deniers angry, and
both unable to speak productive-
ly to one another.
Yet determining who has what
to gain from various courses of
action or inaction might be a con-
versation starter.
It really is a chess game with the
future hanging in the balance. We
must practice critical thinking
and strategize a few moves ahead
in several scenarios.
—Ivy Medow
Florence
Copyright 2021 © Siuslaw News
Siuslaw News
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Siuslaw News
Ambulance district is at a financial crossroads
(Editor’s Note: Viewpoint sub-
missions on this and other topics
are always welcome as part of our
goal to encourage community dis-
cussion and exchange of perspec-
tives.)
The district has an enormous
$3.4 million Unfunded Actuarial
Liability with the PERS retire-
ment program owed by taxpayers
to the State of Oregon.
WLAD was organized in 1976
to provide EMS services to our
western Lane County area. Hos-
pitals typically do not employ
or manage ambulance services.
So, the hospital in our commu-
provides high quality, communi-
ty based, pre-hospital healthcare
through working closely with
hospital groups, long-term care
providers and allied healthcare
organizations.
Their subsidi-
ary, Pacific West Ambulance,
Western Lane Ambulance Dis-
has been serving nearby Lincoln
trict (WLAD) is at a critical finan-
County for the past 34 years. An-
cial and operational crossroads
other example is Bay Cities Am-
and we — Larry Farnsworth,
bulance, which provides emer-
elected Board of Director
gency ambulance response
Member, with RJ Pilcher and
to communities in Coos Bay,
Joel Marks, appointed Bud-
By: Larry Farnsworth, WLAD Board Member; North Bend, Charleston,
get Committee Members —
Hauser, North Bay, Milling-
RJ Pilcher and Joel Marks
wish to alert taxpayers, busi-
ton, Green Acres, Sumner,
Budget Committee members
ness owners and community
Bandon, Roseburg and the
members about the financial
Oregon Sand Dunes.
challenges facing this district.
nity organized a Health Taxing
In fact, these companies actu-
Let us state up front that the District and WLAD became a ally have a higher level of pro-
WLAD staff of paramedics and taxpayer-supported service to fessional certification from the
emergency medical technicians provide essential BLS and ALS Commission on Accreditation
are all excellent at what they do. services to those who are sick or of Ambulance Services than our
There is a long history of excel- injured, conveying them to the own WLAD.
lent service to our district, which nearest location for medical care.
The remarkable difference be-
encompasses the care of individ- WLAD is a “Special District,” like tween WLAD and these privately
uals within approximately 1,000 many others in the state.
run ambulance companies is that
square miles. We certainly do
Special districts are a form of they are able to provide excellent
need Basic Life Support (BLS) local government. They are cre- basic and advanced life support
and Advanced Life Support (ALS) ated by their constituents to meet without any taxpayer subsidy —
services in our community. These specific needs for their communi- and do so while covering costs
highly qualified personnel also ties where similar services are not for their own ambulances, equip-
provide the essential transport of available. Most perform a single ment and capital expenditures.
patients from our local hospital function such as water, fire pro-
They do so by running their
to the critical care facilities in the tection, wastewater or cemetery.
businesses the same way any suc-
valley.
The ambulance district receives cessful small business, or anyone
That being said, we speak to- revenues, in part, by billing pa- managing their family budget
day as knowledgeable, private in- tients for their medical transport. would: By making sure expenses
dividuals and our comments do These services provide revenues don’t exceed revenue. Our hope
not necessarily reflect the view or that come from employer and pri- is that by sharing our perspective
opinion of the WLAD Board or vate health insurance coverages, on the current economic situa-
management. This is not a parti- Medicare, and Medicaid.
tion at our ambulance district,
san political issue; we each share
Because starting a new ambu- taxpayers can reflect on what they
various political views and affilia- lance service in our community feel is a reasonable amount to pay
tions; Larry Farnsworth has been required additional funds, two for these services.
an active union member within property taxes were proposed
A competitive living wage with
the AFL-CIO for 34 years.
and approved by voters: 1) a health benefits and a retirement
It is our belief that the district’s permanent tax levy, and 2) a re- plan are expected. But what hap-
taxpayers are not getting a fair newable five-year operating tax pens when “government” con-
deal and that the ambulance dis- levy. WLAD differs from a pri- stantly raises salaries, benefits
trict, including the Board of Di- vate ambulance business model and perks that are far above what
rectors and the paid management or a corporation-owned business is offered by other qualified pri-
staff, are unable or unwilling to because it receives both patient vate businesses providing the
correct the egregious patterns of care insurance revenues and tax same services?
ongoing financial mismanage- dollars. Unfortunately — and in
In a government district,
ment.
stark contrast with other privately unions dictate through collective
The WLAD management has run ambulance services — this is bargaining how much taxpayers
determined — and the Chief has still not enough funding to keep must pay, through property tax-
made financial presentations — our district in business despite es and levies, to continue opera-
illustrating how the district is more than $1.5 million in taxpay- tions.
going to go out of business on its er funding each year.
It is our belief that taxpayers
current trajectory as operational
We believe financial misman- should be the ones who decide
costs increases eventually outpace agement paying excessively high how much they will fund any ser-
revenues. The only way to contin- wages, benefits, and overtime vice, whether it be fire, police or
ue funding the district is either compensation, with a growing ambulance. Ultimately, taxpayers
through strong contract conces- PERS retirement obligation, are will decide if they would prefer
sions from the union or signifi- to blame.
a cost-competitive private busi-
cant future tax increases from the
Most
ambulance
services ness to provide these services,
public.
throughout Oregon are privately or if they are willing to pay more
The principle economic chal- owned businesses that do not re- and carry the additional financial
lenge for the district is what we ceive any government tax funds obligations that a government
see as excessive overcompensa- or subsidies. These ambulance district requires for the same ser-
tion and the high costs associat- services, such as neighboring vices.
ed with the benefits package for Metro West Ambulance, a nation-
We hope you will read the fi-
union-represented staff mem- ally accredited and locally owned nancial comparisons presented in
bers. Adding to overspending are company, has been a household the informational ad “What are
scheduling models that rely on name in the Pacific Northwest you willing to pay?” on the next
guaranteed overtime staffing.
since the early 1950s. Metro West page.
Guest Viewpoint
Office:
148 Maple St./PO Box 10
Florence, OR 87439
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WHERE TO WRITE
President Joseph Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
TTY/TDD: 202-456-6213
www.whitehouse.gov
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
Email: Sen.DickAnderson@
oregonlegislature.gov
Oregon Gov.
Kate Brown
State Rep.
Boomer Wright (Dist. 9)
State Sen. Dick
Anderson (Dist. 5)
160 State Capitol 900 Court St.
900 Court St. NE
Salem, Ore. 97301-4047
Salem, OR 97301
Message Line:
503-986-1409
503-378-4582
Email: Rep.BoomerWright@
www.oregon.gov/gov
oregonlegislature.gov
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244 | 541-431-0229
www.wyden.senate.gov
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
Lane County Dist. 1
Commissioner
Jay Bozievich
125 E. Eighth St.
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-4203
Email: Jay.Bozievich@
co.lane.or.us
313 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753 | 541-465-6750
Florence City Council
www.merkley.senate.gov
& Mayor Joe Henry
Florence City Hall, 250
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio Highway 101, Florence, 97439
(4th Dist.)
541-997-3437
2134 Rayburn HOB
ci.florence.or.us
Washington, DC 20515
Email comments to Florence
202-225-6416
City Recorder Kelli Weese at
541-269-2609 | 541-465-6732 kelli.weese@ci.florence.or.us
www.defazio.house.gov