EMS agencies are at risk.
A new model for emergency services is needed.
A municipal emergency services authority for the county is the solution.
Municipalities in Pennsylvania are responsible for the provision of emergency services by state law. Townships and boroughs in Indiana County are working together to form a countywide municipal emergency services authority to ensure that residents, businesses and visitors have access to high-quality emergency services on a sustainable basis.
The State of EMS in Indiana County
EMS agencies locally and nationally are at risk of closure due to insufficient revenue and rising costs.
- Voluntary annual membership subscriptions, which help fund EMS services, are declining
- Insurance reimburses only part of the cost, not the entire cost, of EMS agency services
- The current model to fund EMS (staff, facilities, apparatus, equipment, maintenance, training) is unsustainable
In Indiana County, Life Stat Ambulance shut down in December 2024 after 36 years of service. Citizens’ Ambulance Service is struggling, as voluntary membership subscriptions have steeply declined during the past decade.
Citizens’ Ambulance Service Membership Subscriptions
The Countywide Solution
With sponsorship and support from Indiana County’s commissioners, a working group of community leaders studied the county’s EMS system and developed a framework for a countywide municipal emergency services authority.
Municipal-Led: Formed in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipality Authorities Act, the proposed authority would be a municipal-led public solution that provides management, oversight and funding for the countywide EMS system.
Local Board: The proposed authority board would consist of 13 members (one from each of 10 municipal districts; two at-large members; and a non-voting authority CEO). Each district would contribute to management of the authority through their district subcommittees.
Public Funding: The proposed authority would charge all property owners an annual fee to fund its operation. The mandatory fee is anticipated to be on par with EMS agency member subscription rates. The fee would replace EMS agency volunteer member subscriptions.
Benefits For The Community
Sustainable model for emergency services
24/7 readiness to respond to EMS calls
Accessible local board leadership
Local planning and decision-making
Public meetings and transparency