Little time has been spent in evaluating Rural Metro’s operations in Maricopa County. Over time, Rural Metro’s business in the area has dramatically decreased, as relationships have ended with more than fifteen area fire districts. The recent decision of Cave Creek and Fountain Hills to turn to other alternatives has accelerated this trend and will leave Carefree the last community in the county to have a true master contract with Rural Metro.
It is important for Carefree voters to understand that Rural Metro is neither a non-profit nor an independent company but is owned by Global Medical Response headquartered in Colorado. GMR in turn is owned by the private equity firm KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) located in New York. Decisions concerning the future of Carefree’s Rural Metro business are not made locally, but in other states by organizations primarily interested in generating financial returns for their Investors.
If, in fact, the Carefree contract is not a profitable agreement, why would the remote owners wish to extend their last remaining area municipal master contract with Carefree when it expires in a few years? This is another risk the citizens of Carefree should consider in deciding how to vote on May 16th, a risk I am not willing to take. Please vote “Yes” as I plan to do!
Bill Oelman
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