Buffalo Owed Millions In Fees From Ambulance Service

As officials at the City of Buffalo grapple with the potential of a multi-million dollar budget shortfall, government leaders are searching for ways to make city services more efficient and raise more revenue.

One of the things that city officials had been considering is starting its own ambulance service, which would be run, managed, and maintained by the Buffalo Fire Department. Given the scale of the fire department and a series of complaints against the current service provider, AMR, it may prove to be more cost-effective to bring these services back into municipal government.

READ MORE: Buffalo Looking To Start Its Own Ambulance Service

While researching this possibility, it was discovered that millions in service franchise fees have not been paid to the city of Buffalo from AMR. Not only that, but there is apparently supposed to be an Emergency Medical Services Board that is supposed to provide oversight of emergency medical services in Buffalo, and that board has not met in several years.

According to WGRZ-TV, the city of Buffalo may be owed as much as $2.3 million in franchise fees from AMR. AMR has been operating as Buffalo's emergency medical services provider since the company acquired Rural Metro Ambulance in 2016. AMR's current contract with the city of Buffalo expired in 2020, and while an RFP for a new contract was issued in 2021, no new contract has been signed between the city and AMR.

READ MORE: New Ambulance Service Now Underway In Erie County, New York

Considering how cash-strapped the city is, city officials must do a better job collecting funds that are owed to the city. This is also the latest report of companies operating on the city's behalf but not paying any fees owed as part of a contract for services.

The company that operates the restaurant in Buffalo's City Hall, Sue's NY Deli, apparently hasn't paid rent for years and owes the city at least $100,000.