VISTA
The cost of an ambulance ride in Vista could soon jump by $650 an increase that city officials say would help bring a fourth ambulance back to the city’s fleet.
Vista now charges roughly $1,200 per ambulance ride for city residents. Bumping that to about $1,700 a 41 percent increase would put Vista at the regional average.
On top of the $500 increase, the city wants to add a $150 “first-responder fee” allowed under state law. The money would be charged not just for ambulance rides, but to anyone who receives emergency medical service from the fire department.
The proposal to raise the fees emerged after the City Council last month asked Vista Fire Chief Jeff Hahn to come up with ideas for replacing an ambulance that was dropped from the city’s rotation six years ago during budget cuts.