City Budget Workshop Ends with Tentative Support of Ambulance Purchase

Port Orange, FL - Facing a tax increase of at least nine percent, members of the City Council seemed to be willing to entertain a double-digit hike to fund the purchase of a used ambulance and the hiring of four personnel to better respond to emergency calls in the City of Port Orange.

The debate, which has raged for the last seven months, has led to lively discussions between council members and residents who cite the delayed response times by other departments which led to numerous life-threatening situations.

The first-year cost for the ambulance would be an estimated $425,000. Council members have been outspoken on both sides of the topic, and City Mayor Donald Burnette has remained seemingly impartial, but at the most recent budget workshop his tone shifted, and while he remains committed to holding decision makers to fair fiscal accountability, he has given a tentative nod to the idea.

This isn’t the only emergency vehicle The City of Port Orange is considering. The City is committing nearly $281,000 to purchase new police SUVs. The vehicles must be ordered by September 1, 2018 due to Ford ceasing the production of the Police Interceptor SUV in 2019. The city will purchase two new Interceptors and replace 10 others.