Paramedic Fee of $185 Earns OK of Supervisors
About 1 million county residents who rely on the Orange County Fire Authority will now be required to pay $185 for paramedic services, county supervisors agreed Tuesday.
The new fee includes a cost reimbursement for paramedic units, which have provided services without additional cost since the authority was formed in 1995. The fee, including a portion to cover anticipated unpaid bills, has been approved by the county and 19 cities that make up the authority.
Supervisor Jim Silva was the lone no vote, saying the fee was unfair. “I look at this as a tax or a fee increase that isn’t justified,” he said.
Don Ebrite of Villa Park also spoke against the fee, saying it defied the will of residents to vote on additional taxes.
“The cost to Orange County residents [with the new fee] will be $2,076,000 more for the same paramedic service we already have to do the same job they already do,” Ebrite said.
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