This will strike some as blasphemy, but maybe the time has come.

Ripon Fire Consolidated Fire Department needs to seriously consider dropping its ambulance service.

It goes without saying the parcel tax election is critical for the future of the fire district.

But let’s be honest.

Read the district’s game plan for where they need to be.

The parcel tax will get the second engine staffed.

That is critical.

But there are other serious issues.

Equipment replacement, as an example.

Basic fire engines now cost $1.1 million.

The aerial truck the department has will likely cost $2 million or so to replace.

Not only is the district struggling to pay firefighters more than what McDonald’s fast food workers earn, but because they are struggling to stay financially afloat there isn’t money being squirreled away to replace equipment as it wears out.

There is more.

The San Joaquin County Emergency Services System Assessment report issued earlier this year indicated Ripon Consolidated Fire District has what one might politely call a dismal collection rate when it comes to being made whole by those that utilize its ambulance service.

It is understandable that Ripon Fire would want to hold on to its ambulance service.

There is tradition. There is sentiment.

But that isn’t likely the underlying driving force.

And it’s obvious.

There is a lot to be said about having an ambulance service in your community that is not beholden to corporate sensibilities.

Local control means being better at responding to local needs and concerns.

Up the road six miles in Manteca there is arguably the next best thing —or just a good — when it comes to fire and ambulance service.

Manteca Fire and the non-profit community based Manteca District Ambulance (MDA)  respond at the same time to medical emergency service calls and such.

Manteca Fire and MDA work seamless together.

If the City of Manteca wanted its fire department to enter the ambulance business — which they don’t — it has been estimated the personnel needed it staff it would cost $2 million.

Then there is the issue of the need to buy, operate, and maintain rigs as well as expensive details such as insurance.

The question needs to be asked.

In the year 2024, wouldn’t it make more sense to have a fire department in Ripon laser focused on being the best first responders for medical emergencies, fires, rescue situations, toxic spills, accidents and such?

At the same time, wouldn’t it be ideal to have an agency laser focused on emergency medical care in the field, safe transportation of patients, and working hand-in-hand with medical personnel?

To be clear, that is what Ripon Fire is doing with its ambulance when they can staff it to handle an average of six or seven calls a day.

The big difference is there are scales of economy — and the ability to maximize services — in numbers.

At the same time, an agency whose financial footing relies 100 percent on being reimbursed for services as opposed to a hybrid approach of taxes and reimbursement such as Ripon Fire is going to be much more focused on collection.

The solution for Ripon Fire might just be to sit down with Manteca District Ambulance and see if it makes sense for both entities to petition the county to add Ripon to the MDA service area.

Manteca Ambulance, since 1951, has been working effectively not just with the Manteca Fire Department but also Lathrop Manteca Fire District.

Manteca Ambulance, as a side note, has been running ambulances in Tuolumne County for more than 30 years.

The non-profit is already familiar with Ripon Fire with each agency backing the other up.

If MDA has Ripon Fire saw it as a mutually benefit move, an arrangement could be made for the non-profit to place an ambulance at a Ripon station as it does at a fire station in Lathrop.

Obviously, the initial rig would be the one Ripon Fire is currently using.

Of course, the parcel tax passage will keep the ambulance running.

But the question is for how long.

Even with an inflation clause factored into the parcel tax, there is the undeniable fact that tax dollars are subsidizing the Ripon Fire ambulance operation.

If parcel owners pass the tax hike — which is absolutely critical — by transitioning the ambulance operations to MDA, it means 100 percent of every tax dollar will go to fire service operations.

Tax dollars would not subsidize the ambulance service freeing money to concentrate on fire service.

Arguably, the best situation would be for the City of Ripon to pass a sales tax and share it with the district as the City of Lathrop did with the Lathrop Manteca Fire Department.

That is likely to be DOA for quite a longtime if a trial balloon is launched.

The fire district parcel tax at best — especially with an ambulance operation that struggles to collect for billed services — is a short term solution.

Passing the parcel tax along with transitioning out of the ambulance business and putting Ripon’s needs in the hands of a community-based non-profit with a solid track record and deep local roots would put the Ripon Consolidated Fire District in an even stronger financial system.

The Manteca District Ambulance partnership with the Manteca Fire Department,as well as the Lathrop Manteca Fire Department, has been effective for 73 years.

There is no reason that a working partnership between Manteca District Ambulance and Ripon Consolidated Fire District won’t work.

This column is the opinion of editor, Dennis Wyatt, and does not necessarily represent the opinions of The Bulletin or 209 Multimedia. He can be reached at dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com