MEXICO — The Med-Care Ambulance Service board of directors has approved a 10 percent rate increase for its 11 member towns.

The board gave unanimous approval to the increase at its meeting Wednesday night.

“The reality is this is a subsidy increase just to make this budget operational for us for the next year,” said Bob Chase, a member of the Med-Care finance committee.

“It still does not address our capital needs and the needs we’ll have for equipment replacement in the future.”

The $1.94 million Med-Care budget includes an increase of $23,530 to $399,891 for the 11 member towns, beginning July 1, 2019.

The increase and cost by town:

• Andover: $1,228 to $20,884.

• Byron: $217 to $3,480.

• Canton: $1,419 to $24,123.

• Carthage: $843 to $14,331.

• Dixfield: $3,694 to $62,806.

• Hanover: $364 to $6,018.

• Mexico: $3,930 to $66,810.

• Newry: $495 to $8,415.

• Peru: $2,338 to $39,754.

• Roxbury: $541 to $9,205.

• Rumford: $8,461 to $143,845.

At Wednesday’s board meeting, it was also announced Dean Milligan, Med-Care’s director of operations, will not receive a salary increase for the upcoming fiscal year.

The board also held its annual election of officers, appointing Bob Chase as president, Reggie Arsenault as vice president, Jim Pulsifer as treasurer and Cheryl Wade as secretary.

bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net

The Med-Care Ambulance Service board of directors approved the 2019 budget on Wednesday. From left: Treasurer Jim Pulsifer, Director of Operations Dean Milligan and President Reggie Arsenault. (Rumford Fals Times photo by Bruce Farrin)