Could an ambulance authority support Cranberry Township EMS?
Cranberry Township EMS, taking inspiration from Alle-Kiski, is spearheading an initiative its chief believes will improve service and provide yearly funding.
The initiative aims to create an EMS authority encompassing Cranberry Township and Seven Fields in Butler County and New Sewickley Township in Beaver County. The authority would have each household or business pay an annual fee toward EMS services through a municipal contribution.
“I look at it as, it shouldn’t matter where you live. It should be the same approach from every municipality,” said Cranberry Township EMS Chief Matt Nickl.
Nickl said his ambulance service is working with Robb Consulting, which submitted a three-year financial projection to him on April 6, establishing how such an authority would be governed and a funding model. The authority was one of three takeaways suggested by an October study completed by Cranberry and Harmony EMS agencies jointly.
Other municipalities may be welcomed once the authority is established, but initial costs and funding would only be represented from only Cranberry Township, Seven Fields and New Sewickley Township, Nickl said.
Cranberry Township EMS aims to make up $700,000 annually to offset day-to-day operating costs and capital expenses from the participating municipalities.
Nickl’s target for launching the authority is January 2027, but the authority will need state approval first to collect fees from multiple municipalities based on assessed property values.
Cranberry Township EMS would maintain its own 501(c)3 with the authority existing separately and contributing to the ambulance service.
Cranberry Township EMS covers Cranberry Township, Seven Fields and the southeast portion of New Sewickley Township. The ambulance service runs two advanced life support units at all times and operates a third during peak hours. When a third crew is available, they’re positioned in the southwest corner of the township, giving them better access to the entire service area, Nickl said.
Ahead of a planned Friday meeting with Cranberry Township EMS, Seven Fields manager Tom Smith said borough council is not yet convinced to join the authority. He said Seven Fields has continued to “look at all options on the table.”
Cranberry Township’s board of supervisors feel the same way, but its leadership has heard from EMS leaders that a half-mill tax won’t sustain the ambulance service.
“We’re looking at other models across the commonwealth and we see folks who have gone the route of implementing an EMS tax,” said township manager Dan Santoro.
Santoro said the township and those spearheading the authority have examined similar authority models in Lancaster and Indiana counties, and at the developing Alle-Kiski Emergency Services Authority in Allegheny County.
“(An authority) is a way that helps provide sustainable funding where everybody who has a stake in the success of that EMS agency is paying their fair share equitably,” Santoro said.
But while Seven Fields and Cranberry Township are still examining options, Harmony and its neighbors are not considering an authority model, according to Harmony Mayor Cathy Rape.
The municipalities agreed to provide donations after hearing a presentation on insurance reimbursements for ambulance services and the feasibility of the business model.
“It’s a shame that the insurance people are so messed up that ambulances can’t collect what they deserve,” she said.
Harmony EMS serves 40,000 residents across 10 municipalities, according to a study published in October assessing the potential for an EMS authority. Cranberry Township serves 35,000 residents across three municipalities, according to the study.
Nine municipalities served by Harmony EMS have committed to allocating funds through either a half-mill tax or a donation from their general funds, according to Jay Grinnell, Harmony EMS chief and a Jackson Township supervisor.
He said Evans City got on board too late, but is expected to allocate funds next year.
“Everything helps, but it’s not going to save the world, Grinnell said.
“The state needs to change the law, so EMS can get (more than) half a mill,” he added.
Residents in Harmony, Zelienople and Jackson and Lancaster townships may also be wary of joining another authority after establishing the Southwest Butler Stormwater Authority, Grinnell said.
Zelienople was the last to join in August 2024.
Zelienople residents expressed displeasure with the taxes and fees associated with authority membership at the meeting where the borough council voted to join. Another authority may come with similar fees.
The municipalities considering a role in the Cranberry EMS’ proposed authority were expected to meet Friday.
