Both city and county officials met Monday afternoon to air grievances and discuss the finer details of renewing the county’s ambulance and rescue service contract with the city.

After the postponement of a vote by the Warren County Board of Supervisors Monday morning in order to take the meeting, Richard George, board president, and John Arnold, District 1 supervisor, met with North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield and other city officials to try to clear up any confusion before the county board votes Monday on their final course of action, something County Administrator John Smith said would likely raise taxes whether they vote to maintain the city’s services or hire a private company.

“It’s very imperative to try to make this system work,” Mayfield said. “What we’re trying to make sure is that the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed.”

City attorney Nancy Thomas and Smith reviewed the terms of the proposed contract, including paying $400 — an increase of $100 over last year — to the city for each dispatched ambulance run outside city limits and splitting rescue costs with the city, totaling $920,000.

Earlier confusion over costs, which could have topped $1.4 million, Smith said, resulted from the county potentially having to pay $400 each for an unexpectedly high number of rescue calls instead of cost sharing rescue costs with the city.

“We’re still losing $1 million a year. I just wanted everyone to know we’re not making money off the county. It’s not a for-profit service,” Thomas said.

Fire Chief Charles Atkins added, “We’re taking the brunt of it as far as supplies and keeping it up, but I’m about moving forward. Instead of running backwards, let’s run forward.”

Smith said the cost estimate is still $252,000 over the expected costs budgeted, and Thomas said no wiggle room could be given in the $400 cost per run the city would charge the county in the proposed agreement.

“There are so many factors we have to look at to come up with these numbers,” Mayfield said. “There’s nothing hidden here that I know of.”

Arnold, who asked the most questions about the increased costs, said the meeting went well.

“There’s a big difference between $1.4 million and $920,000, but there’s also a big difference between $920,000 and our budgeted $667,500,” he said of the board’s looming decision and why they entertained a private company to begin with.

The county is considering contracting with ASAP EMS, which is based out of Laurel and provides ambulance service for Copiah, Jones, Jasper, Greene and George counties in Mississippi, and in Clarke and Monroe counties in Alabama, according to its website.

George said that particular company was selected because that’s who the select number of supervisors considering a private company decided to investigate.

“I can’t speak for the board, and that’s a proven fact there….but given the service and dependability that we’ve enjoyed from the city of Vicksburg for many years under various circumstances and conditions…you’ve fielded the proper personal and taken care of Vicksburg and Warren County in a first class fashion. Our duty as elected officials, if we can’t do nothing else, including tax you, we can at least take care of you so we can tax you,” he said of his opinion on the debate. “Bottom line of it is none of us like to see increases, but it’s part of life. If we want quality service, we’ve got to pay for it. We’ve got quality service and I’ll vote any day to pay the $400.”

Smith said that hiring a private company is expected to cost the county around $836,000.

“Whether $920,000 or $836,000, it’s more than the $667,500 I had budgeted, so we’d have to raise taxes,” he said.

The Warren County Board of Supervisors will discuss their options, George said, and be prepared to vote on the issue during a special called board meeting Aug. 29 at 9 a.m. in the Warren County Court House.

The need for both city and county to finalize budgets by mid-September and the county’s current contract running out with the city at the end of that month is driving the timeline for the decision.