Crime & Safety
SD City Council to Consider New Paramedic Contract
Rural/Metro, a private ambulance company that contracts with the city of Encinitas and others, is accused of financial wrongdoing.
The San Diego City Council on Monday will consider a renegotiated deal with a private ambulance company that would dissolve a joint venture between the city and the firm.
The change stems from an audit of the relationship between San Diego and Rural/Metro of San Diego, which accused the company of millions of dollars of questionable financial transactions.
Rural/Metro—which also contracts with Del Mar, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach and the county of San Diego—denies wrongdoing and is participating in an investigation.
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The council members will choose among four options for a new contract with the company, which will last for two years. In the meantime, city officials plan to open ambulance services to competitive bidding.
Under the different choices, Rural/Metro would buy out the partnership for $5 million to $6 million and pay the city an annual fee of $8 million to $10 million.
Find out what's happening in Encinitaswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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