HOW WE SEE IT

Voters Have Say; Solution Still Elusive

WHAT’S THE POINT?

The rejection of the $85-perhousehold annual fee in rural Benton County to support ambulance service leaves a critically important challenge in need of inspired leadership.

The ambulance problem in Benton County is just as real as ever.

Tuesday night’s election in unincorporated Benton County provided one answer. The vast majority of residents who voted believe an $85-per-household annual fee was not the acceptable mechanism to pay for the amounts demanded by the seven city-run ambulance services that have historically responded to rural areas.

Beyond that, nothing was solved. Like giving aspirin for a heart attack, the vote attempted to address the condition but fell woefully short of a cure.

A few claimed a defeat at the ballot box equated to calling the cities’ bluff, but this is no game of poker. It’s simple financial management: If Benton County government wants to provide the protection of an emergency ambulance response to the unincorporated areas, there will be a cost. There’s precious little evidence Bentonville, Siloam Springs, Springdale, Rogers, Gravette, Bella Vista and Pea Ridge are being disingenuous when they say the historical level of financial support from the county is insufficient in this age of growing populations.

Nothing comes for free, folks. Rural areas have benefited immensely from the cities’ willingness to respond for years. Times change, however, and maintaining an ambulance service gets more expensive every year. Benton County has largely escaped those costs for years.

If payment from the county ends, each of those ambulance services will face a difficult decision but will be well within reason to devote their limited resources to meeting the needs of their municipalities.

County officials Wednesday struggled to discern their next steps. There is no Plan B, and at the current time, county ends payment when March does. It took years for the Quorum Court to decide on the $85 fee, and that was promptly rejected by voters. We’re skeptical a lasting solution can be found in 45 days.

The cities’ responses will continue as long as the county is providing financial support. They are under no financial, moral or other obligation to do more. The responsibility for this rests with the county judge and Quorum Court. They, at the least, recognize the real danger of inaction and have sought a solution. Too many opponents are living with their heads in the sand about what a solution might look like.

It might be tempting for opponents to just fade away in the wake of their victory at the polls, hoping the status quo continues, that the ambulances will keep running. They would be ill-advised to just wait for the next proposal they can oppose. Benton County’s rural families, businesses and travelers need solution-oriented people ready to work out a reasonable plan.

This issue has dragged on and on and on. It might be tempting after Tuesday’s vote to take a break, but a more permanent plan for revenue needs a continued level of urgency. If voters meant to force county leaders to cut budgets and find money within current spending levels, it’s going to take some time to make those difficult decisions to affect other county services.

There can be little justification for celebrating Tuesday night’s outcome as it continues the uncertainty about emergency medical care in rural Benton County. It’s past time for responsible action to ensure all of Benton County is protected. Failure to do so comes with a price far beyond what anyone should be willing to pay.

Opinion, Pages 5 on 02/13/2014

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