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City bites ambulance aid bullet By Stephen Hadley The Daily News Published January 15, 2002 LA MARQUE - Contending La Marque had no other choice, the city council on Monday agreed to increase the subsidy it pays each month to Rural/Metro Ambulance. In a 4-0 vote, the city approved a measure to pay Rural/Metro $80,000 a year, up from $75,075 it has been paying since October. Councilman Larry Crow was absent. Before the increase the city agreed to pay in October, La Marque paid a $42,000 subsidy each year. Rural/Metro sought the subsidy increases from six cities in the area and Galveston County because it said reductions in insurance reimbursements from Medicare and private insurers were making it difficult to do business. La Marque city leaders said that while they didn't like being asked for the increases at the start of the fourth year of a five-year contract, they had little choice. . City Manager Carol McLemore said the alternatives were more costly. She said the city could seek new bids for ambulance service but that costs would be substantially higher than Rural/Metro's and service might be compromised. "I feel like we are between a rock and hard place," said Councilman Richard Torres. "I feel like the decision has been made for us, and we really don't have a choice." McLemore said representatives from the county and the six cities had been meeting with Rural/Metro officials since July to talk about subsidy increases. She said a review of the company's books revealed that the increase was warranted. °There was a lot of soul searching and a lot of questions asked," she said. °I think this is the very best we can do at this time." z