Riley County Commissioners Ron Wells, left, Marvin Rodriguez and Ben Wilson. (Staff photo by Brady Bauman)
Riley County’s EMS and fire departments will receive Kansas Police and Fire retirement system benefits starting in 2018.
County commissioners approved the affiliation Monday morning 3-0 as the county continues to transition into its fully independent ambulance service on Nov. 1.
Riley County commissioners voted to terminate its contract with Via Christi hospital in Manhattan on May 25 after hospital leaders informed both Riley and Pottawatomie counties in April that it would raise administrative fees by $200,000 for 2018.
The contract with Via Christi involved billing and collection.
According to county documents, employer’s contributions into the KP&F system is based on the normal cost associated with the retirement system. The annual certified rate for 2018 is 20.09%. This rate would apply to all EMS/Ambulance staff and the two positions of Emergency Management Director/Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chief.
Employee contributions into the KP&F system is at a rate of 7.15%.
The affiliation will cost the county $205,207 for 2018 and onward.
Commissioners had the option to wait till 2019 to add the benefit, but ultimately, the board decided to take care of it sooner.
Commissioner Marvin Rodriguez said the county needed to approve the affiliation to retain employees.
“In the long run it costs more money to train people again,” he said. “The benefits is a big thing for employees.”
Commissioner Ben Wilson expressed early reservations and leaned towards waiting till 2019. Commission Chairman Ron Wells emphasized with Wilson, but ultimately agreed with Rodriguez.
“I figure might as well bite the bullet and get this behind us,” he said.
Riley County EMS Director David Adams told commissioners the KP&F affiliation and benefits that go with it are common in the industry and throughout the state, saying further that when he’s lost employees, it’s been to cities and counties that have such affiliation.
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