WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. June 25, 2008:  The Common Council was asked last night to authorize $100,000 more in payment to Transcare ambulance services for the next year due to skyrocketing costs of diesel fuel.  Jim O’Connor of Transcare said diesel fuel three years ago cost $2.10 a gallon and this year it is up to $5.25  a gallon. The city pays the ambulance service roughly $280,000 a year for its services, said Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Daniel Jackson.  The request, which the council has not made up its mind upon, will be considering pending further information from “staff,” regarding what the cost price index would provide as opposed to actual increased costs.

The $100,000 increase would bring the contract for the next year to about $380,000, based on Mr. Jackson’s estimate of what the city pays now.

Currently, the contract calls for an increase each year based on the Cost Price Index. Neither the Mayor, nor Executive Officer could provide how that CPI percentage is defined, but they assured the council “it was in the contract.”