LISBON

Lisbon may change its ambulance provider after Lisbon Emergency requested a stipend from the town for the first time.

Town Manager Diane Barnes said Lisbon Emergency has never asked the town for funding before, but is now requesting $127,885 for the 2018-19 fiscal year.

That amount would increase to $149,172 for the following fiscal year and to $199,245 in fiscal year 2020-21.

The nonprofit Lisbon Emergency was founded in 1977 by a group of local citizens and is made up of predominantly volunteers. It hasn’t received funding from the towns it serves — mainly Lisbon and Bowdoin — and has been a self-supporting organization reliant on grant programs.

Bowdoin Fire Chief Tom Garrepy said Bowdoin is looking at a nearly $30,000 for Lisbon Emergency services for next fiscal year. That is a big jump for the town as it had never paid for the service before.

Barnes said the amount of funding Lisbon Emergency is seeking is not out of the normal for how ambulances are funded. Due to the level of reimbursement for MaineCare and Medicare patients, Lisbon Emergency must receive more than 2,000 calls a year to be viable. However, Lisbon and Bowdoin combined generate only about 1,000 calls.

The Lisbon Town Council on Tuesday established a subcommittee of stakeholders to examine different options, which may include:

• Lisbon agrees to pay the stipend and nothing changes;

• A public-private partnership could be formed where Lisbon’s fire department provides more services;

• Lisbon issues a request for proposals for other ambulance services.

Barnes said it would cost Lisbon more than the amount requested in the stipend for the town to absorb Lisbon Emergency as a municipal department.

The subcommittee is scheduled to meet Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Lisbon town office.

dmoore@timesrecord.com