Attorney general OKs charging for ambulance service on utility bills

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson says the cities can pay for private ambulance services by using funds collected on residents' utility bills.<br><br>The attorney general

Thursday, April 29th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson says the cities can pay for private ambulance services by using funds collected on residents' utility bills.

The attorney general issued his legal opinion at the request of state Representative James Covey.

The Custer City Democrat says he started receiving questions and complaints after the city of Clinton contracted with a private ambulance company and added charges to utility bills.

Cities have various ways to pay for ambulance services. Some charge only those who are picked up by the ambulance. Others, like Oklahoma City, pay for the service out of the city's general service fund.

But the attorney general's opinion, more cities could consider charging for the service as Clinton does.