GREENE COUNTY AMBULANCE CONTRACT NEARS NOVEMBER 9 DEADLINE AS HOSPITAL AND BOARD DISAGREE OVER FUNDING

CARROLLTON, Ill. — With a November 9 contract expiration approaching, the Greene County Board and Thomas H. Boyd Memorial Hospital have yet to agree on how the county ambulance service will be funded. The dispute puts long-term staffing and coverage questions before county leaders, although the hospital says existing ambulance operations will continue through the current contract.

At a special Greene County Board meeting Wednesday, October 21, board members tabled a proposal to solicit outside bids for ambulance service. Boyd Memorial Hospital President and CEO Stace Holland said the hospital intends to compete to continue operating the county service if bidding becomes necessary. The decision to postpone bidding did not resolve the disagreement over funding.

Boyd has operated Greene County ambulance service since 1999. The hospital says county payments dropped from $493,000 in 2025 to $230,000 in 2026, a reduction of $263,000. Hospital officials argue that the lower funding level does not cover the expense of providing dependable countywide emergency transport.

The hospital reports an operating deficit of $304,291 for the ambulance service during the first ten months of fiscal 2026. Boyd proposed a three-year contract starting at $550,000 annually with 4 percent annual increases to account for operating expenses. The county board did not accept that proposal.

County Finance Committee Chair Josh Lawson says the public cost of ambulance coverage includes more than annual payments to the hospital. The county has purchased equipment and vehicles for the service, including an ambulance costing more than $250,000. Lawson has also pointed to spending obligations across other county departments and legal requirements related to bidding.

Hospital officials have warned that a prolonged funding gap could force the ambulance operation to scale back to a single ambulance. The possibility has raised concerns about maintaining timely responses across Greene County, particularly where travel distances between communities can be substantial. That reduction has been described as a possible consequence, not an announced change to present-day coverage.

Greene County Coroner Brady Milnes has raised questions about whether a different provider could maintain the level of response and service residents currently receive. County officials, for their part, say they must weigh those public-safety needs against the financial commitments available to the county.

Boyd has issued notice that the present agreement will not renew automatically under the unresolved terms. Its public explanation says the service will continue through November 9. Neither the hospital nor county has announced a final replacement contract or the cancellation of service beyond that date.

For residents, the unanswered questions include how many ambulances will be staffed, where they will be stationed, who will operate them after November 9, and what annual funding will be required. RiverNewsLive will continue tracking the negotiations and any decision that changes emergency medical coverage in Greene County.

Boyd Healthcare Services has published information about ambulance-service costs and the continuing funding dispute.