VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A private ambulance company won't be in charge of transporting patients anymore in Volusia County. The county council approved a takeover on Thursday that's supposed to save taxpayers millions of dollars.
Residents won't even notice the change because even the ambulances seen around town will look the same.
Whether it's on the beach or anywhere else in Volusia County, it's not uncommon to see EVAC ambulances first on the scene of an emergency. The private ambulance service has more than 211 employees, who found out on Thursday they'll have to work for the county or find another job.
"The uncertainty of change is always a concern with anybody, either you or I," said EVAC spokesperson Mark O'Keefe.
County council members confronted that uncertainty by reassuring EVAC employees they'd have priority over others when applying to work for the county. EVAC runs 72,000 calls a year in Volusia County and leaders said they'll need to retain its employees.
EVAC is a non-profit organization that was established by Volusia County in the 1980s and was its own agency. Now, budget cuts prompted the take county to take over.
The county gave EVAC $1.5 million to break even last year, and this year EVAC asked for $4 million to keep operating. County leaders believe the transition will save residents $2.5 million.
A spokesperson for EVAC said its employees will work to make the transition seamless.
"The bottom line is we're in the business of saving lives. We do it today and we're focused on doing the same tomorrow," O'Keefe.
When the county takes over EVAC, its employees will receive retirement from the Florida Retirement Fund. The county is confident it will hire most of them.
The transition is complete on October 1.