Ambulance service in Cheyenne County has changed hands several times in recent years. After the previous operators stepped away, Sidney Regional Medical Center, the City of Sidney and Cheyenne County partnered to form a new EMS organization so residents would never be without emergency response.
That partnership kept ambulances on the road — but the funding model it started with can no longer keep pace with what it costs to provide the service.
What's driving costs
- Inflation: prices have climbed roughly a third since 2018, and a new ambulance now costs around $350,000 — about $100,000 more than before the pandemic.
- Demand: EMS call volume in the county grew by more than a third between 2017 and 2025.
- An aging population: a higher median age means more medical calls and more long-distance transfers.
What happens next
County voters are being asked how to fund the emergency care that reaches them in minutes rather than hours. SRMC encourages every resident to learn the facts, ask questions and vote.
Related care at SRMC
Emergency Room
