Despite budget hurdles heading into the next fiscal year, Pella Mayor Don DeWaard remains confident in the city’s ability to juggle a large load of proposed projects in 2025.

DeWaard says city administration is working to shore up a budget deficit largely spurred by increased cost in ambulance service — but a tentative agreement has been reached with Pella Regional to provide transfers for the hospital. It requires the city to hire four additional full-time staff members and buy a vehicle to handle those service calls. DeWaard stresses the service remains stellar, and that it’s been difficult to overcome low federal reimbursement rates through Medicare.

During a policy and planning work session in the final meeting of the year, the council received details about a proposal that would see Pella Regional pay the city $350,000 to provide transfers of patients between medical facilities. Pella Ambulance had reduced the service that was previously provided due to staffing issues and the strain it was having on local calls that continue to increase.

The payment is contingent on the city-run organization hiring four full-time staff members and purchasing a fourth ambulance. Both were highlighted in a recent consultant’s report that detailed the need for more staff members and vehicles in the city’s fleet.

However, DeWaard has less clarity about a county-wide proposal to increase a levy that would pay for ambulance services and shore up budget deficits countywide on EMS.

Hear more about the City of Pella in 2024 and 2025 on Let’s Talk Pella this week.