Wahpeton eliminates almost 40-year subsidy with ambulance service

Wahpeton, ND (WDAY TV) - Wahpeton's city council says enough is enough. It's eliminating a 39-year old subsidy with Ambulance Service Incorporated, freeing 13 thousand dollars from a tight budget. Now some people in Wahpeton are hoping the city council isn't going too far, WDAY 6 Reporter Todd Kurtz has the story.

The ambulance service has seen a drastic cut in funding in the last 10 months. Last year Wahpeton voted to cut the subsidy in half, this year with a 7 to 1 vote. They're wiping it out.

“We don't know where the money is going.”

The company is a private, for profit business. Council members say the company is refusing to show them a budget report, raising the question does the company need help?

“Haven’t heard from them on how desperate the need is.”

People who live in Wahpeton we're split on the decision. Some say, it's too risky to cut from the medical field, others say if the organization can't be up front with their budget, they don't need the city's tax dollars.

From the council's perspective, Devries says since the company is a for profit business, it's not fair to give it tax dollars and leave others with none.

“We know it's important, but so is the hospital.”

No one from Ambulance Service Incorporated could talk to us today.

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