Pennington County commissioners are continuing to search for a long-term funding solution for ambulance service in rural areas after learning that Rapid City Fire could end service to unincorporated parts of the county after Dec. 31, 2026, if a new agreement is not reached.
Rapid City Fire has provided ambulance service to many rural residents since 2003 without a subsidy and has operated without a formal contract since 2007. Fire Chief Jason Culberson notified county officials last year that growing call volumes and rising costs require a new funding arrangement.
Commissioner Jerry Derr said ambulance service is an essential government function and noted that roughly 2,700 annual calls in rural Pennington County and neighboring areas result in a funding gap of about $1.5 million after reimbursements.
Possible solutions include a county levy, creation of ambulance districts, or using existing county funds to contract with Rapid City Fire.
To avoid a service interruption, commissioners approved sending a request to Rapid City Fire seeking a short-term agreement that would extend coverage into 2027 while a permanent funding plan is developed.
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