Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett says voters, in effect, would create a $13 million gap in the suburb's budget if they reject a new ambulance fee he championed. County officials adopted Leggett's proposal in May but can't implement the charge -- between $300 and $800 per ambulance ride -- until a likely voter referendum is decided this fall. Opponents of the measure say they have secured enough signatures to ensure the fee is placed on the ballot.
"Because of the limited options available, these additional cuts will impact all of the county government and will certainly hit public safety, including our fire and rescue services," Leggett wrote in a letter to the County Council, alluding to the potential hole in the budget. The fee was narrowly passed by the council, with most members saying it was necessary to fill a billion-dollar budget shortfall, after years of pressure from Leggett's office to approve the charge.
Supporters say the cost would be absorbed entirely by insurance companies and that uninsured residents wouldn't pay the bill. However, critics argue that premiums and deductibles would rise, as insurance companies find ways to pass the costs to their customers. And now Leggett is being accused of fear-mongering.
"It's an attempt to scare the council and scare the public," said Eric Bernard, executive director of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, whose organization is generating the petition against the fee. "It's just a sad attempt from the county executive to scare the people into accepting an additional tax."
SOURCE: Washington Examiner
No comments:
Post a Comment