Junction City and Geary County are at odds over who should pay the EMS bill.
In 1967, the two governments agreed that the Junction City Fire Department would handle EMS calls in Geary County, and not just in the city limits. The non-reimbursed costs for the service to the county are split with one-third paid by the city and two-thirds paid by the county.
Geary County officials announced in July they no longer wished to continue the agreement at that cost split. A new agreement was discussed but no action could be taken, due to the 2024 budget already having been completed.
Junction City Manager Allen Dinkel explains the root of the problem, and what it could potentially mean for county residents
Dinkel also published a memo stating that property owners in city limits are not just responsible for their one third, but also 71% of the remaining county share, stating residents are required to pay four times as much for the same service as non-city residents
Dinkel explains how busy EMS has been in the Junction City and Geary County:
Junciton City has determined that Geary County owes them approximately $800,000. Geary County approved a resolution last month to pay the city approximately $447,000, more than half the total owed.
No action was taken by city officials Dec. 5, but the issue is expected to be revisited at next Tuesday’s meeting, after the city’s legal team presented to the Geary County Commission earlier this week.
