Due to a greater demand for emergency medical care, uncertain availability of Advanced Life Support units responding to Springfield Township, and increased response times from private ambulance companies, a dedicated millage is proposed so this critical service can be provided by the Springfield Township Fire Department.
Springfield Township has been monitoring response times and call volume over the years and determined last fall that it is time to make a change in how Advanced Life Support services are provided to the community.
Before the start of an Advanced Life Support trial program in November 2021, Springfield Township relied on a private ambulance company to provide ALS services, with back-up aid coming from surrounding departments.
In recent years, the private ambulances were being dispatched from farther and farther away, often having to make a run to Springfield Township from Pontiac.
This has led to long waits for residents when urgent care is needed.
Since 2019, the response times from the private ambulance company were averaging over 17 minutes.
Based on results of the trial Advanced Life Support program, medical call response times from the Springfield Township Fire Department reduced average response to under seven and a half minutes, a great improvement in service for citizens.
However, the current fire department funding and staffing that support the trial ALS program is not sufficient to sustain Advanced Life Support services long-term.
That is why a dedicated ALS millage proposal is on the ballot this August 2.
The millage proposal is for ¾ of a mill for a period of 10 years. That rate would cost 75 cents per $1,000 of taxable value – or about $94 per year for the average Springfield Township property owner.
The additional funding would be used to increase staffing of paramedics and emergency medical technicians, enhance station coverage, and base two ALS ambulances at Springfield Township Fire Stations 1 and 2, located at 12800 Andersonville Road and 10289 Rattalee Lake Road, respectively.
— Matt Mackinder