Moving quickly can make a big difference when it comes to getting a new emergency-response vehicle for Northumberland County, as Paramedics Chief Susan Brown explained at the November meeting of Northumberland County Council's Community Health Standing Committee.
Brown reiterated the challenges that have led to a universal shortage of microchips that, in turn, is holding up the production of new cars and creating shortages – shortages that include such service vehicles as the new ambulance the county had planned to purchase next year.
And while ordering and fitting out a new ambulance is normally a six-month process, these new obstacles could cause a significant addition to the timeline.
“One of our suppliers does have a few extra, so this was an opportunity,” Brown said. All it would take to get one for the 2022 budget year is pre-approval and a purchase order. And the earlier timeline to order the vehicle and have it converted means that the $95,030-plus-HST price represents substantial savings for the 2022 budget.
Brown's report pointed out that $90,000 is budgeted for the purchase. The remaining cost ($5,030 plus $1,672.53 in non-recoverable HST) can be covered through previous years' purchase-savings reserve. And current Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care funding as it stands repays half of that amount in yearly instalments over the useful life of the vehicle (2023 through 2028).
The committee will recommend to county council to vote pre-budget approval for the purchase.