Mitzi Yates, candidate for County Commission, District 3, hit an increase in ambulance charges passed by the commission in the new budget.
She said, “The Hamilton County Commission has decided to raise taxes on the sickest people in our county. Ambulance service charges are almost doubling.
"The Basic Life Support charge is being raised from $745 to $1,080. Mileage charges are going from $10 per mile to $20 per mile.
“It is simply disgraceful that they treat the critically ill as a profit center.
This is a tax on the sick and the elderly.”
County officials said they raised the charge due to recent deficits, including $1.2 million last year that had to be covered out of general tax funds.