Please reach us at ruralalaskaems@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
There will be multiple streams, including a mix of local entities (City & Deltana Community Corp), grants, community fundraising, and corporate sponsorships. It will need to be a united front with all parties working together to fund the EMS situation. Donations from the community are essential to this and can be made on the RAES website (we are tax-deductible, and you will receive a receipt for your donation).
Other revenue streams from corporate donations, local businesses, grant funding for equipment often want to see that the community is also pulling its weight. Please donate as much and as often (monthly) as you can.
Other revenue should be available through City landfill fees, SEMT, insurance billing, etc.
If the service fails, funds would either be reallocated to other emergency services or returned based on grant and donation policies. The key issue is ensuring EMS has long-term sustainability beyond just the startup phase. RAES is commited to having an EMS system in place. All resources will be used to facilitate the best EMS structure going forward.
The annual cost of the proposed contract with a private provider for 2025 is $1.025 million. This is subsidized by other private EMS business contracts.
The cost of a non-profit EMS is in the range of $1 - $1.2 million per year. This provides one ambulance staffed with a crew 24/7/365. Its not cheap, but this is the realistic cost of a sustainable and up-to-date service with trained professionals and proper equipment. The actual annual budget needed will be refined as the service is established.
All funds raised go to RAES commitment in the contract of up to $39,404.17 per month, with the City paying the balance. Anything raised beyond that will be distributed to the long-term future of EMS in Delta (whichever proposal has the most merit).
RAES is committed to seeing this to the end and doesn’t see failure as a good outcome for the community. Funds will be used to ensure EMS services, as long as the funds keep coming in with the goal of transferring to the best model possible. Donations will always need to be relied upon and for it to be successful, then we must do our part.
Yes, there will be. Large businesses have expressed their commitment to Deltas EMS, but we have to present a sustainable plan to build confidence and unity. They also want to see the community commitment to the plan. When they see positive progress towards Delta establishing the EMS, then they will be ready to support it financially as well.
Kinross, Alyeska, Pogo, and other corporations have a history of supporting community initiatives. Their contributions would depend on negotiations, existing agreements, and whether EMS is seen as benefiting their operations or employees.
RAES has had extensive communications with the corporations surrounding the Deltana area, and with some corporations being forthcoming and helpful. The majority of Corporations would like to see the community members involvement before they step in to help.
While there have been many suggestions floated related to these two items, the RAES plan does not utilise these two avenues for funding. Nothing in the RAES plan would position Delta for either.
However, if there are additional obstacles or blocks to getting the new contract approved or funding sources solidified, those will most likely lead to a state-enforced borough.
Absolutely. We will explore all of these options and see them all as contributions for the long-term sustainability funding EMS in Delta.
Yes. EMS cannot refuse emergency care based on the ability to pay. However, unpaid bills can strain the service’s budget, making sustainable funding critical.
We are a community, not savages. We look out for one another like it used to be.
However, if you are a paying member you’ll have privileges that non-paying members won't have (voting powers for public board members, potential EMS training, etc.).
RAES is exploring the creation of a legacy donation program that aligns with the interests of the community account. This program would allow individuals or corporations to designate a portion of their estate to support EMS, with the principal preserved and only the interest used for funding. Many nonprofit and community-based organizations utilize endowment funds like this to ensure long-term sustainability.