Ambulance Fee Questions, New Business Opens, Weekend Events
Published 16 days ago • 6 min read
Observer Weekly
October 16, 2025
Jefferson County, WV news & events
Every week, The Observer digs into the details that matter in Jefferson County. Our content is free for everyone to read, but producing well-researched local news isn’t free.
The ambulance housed in Shepherdstown is routinely assigned to standby at the Route 9 bike trail parking lot in Kearneysville to provide mid-county coverage when the ambulances in the two Charles Town stations are running calls.
The revenue from Jefferson County’s per-property ambulance fee is covering a shrinking share of a growing emergency services budget, which will force the County Commission to make difficult choices about service levels and funding.
The Jefferson County Emergency Services Agency (JCESA) currently operates 5 ambulances with two-person crews 24x7 and an additional two-person ambulance crew during a 12-hour daytime shift.
The budget for the JCESA has increased from $4 million in fiscal year 2022 to $6.5 million in the current budget (fiscal year 2026). Since 2014, the County has billed an “ambulance fee” for all residential and commercial structures in the county to help cover the costs of operating the ambulance service.
In contrast to the significant increase in the JCESA operating budget, the Commission has not raised the fee since 2014 and the amount billed for the fees has remained level over the past five years: In FY 2022, the county billed $1.1 million for the fee and in FY 2026 the county mailed out invoices totalling $1.2 million for the bills that were due last month.
In FY 2022 the ambulance fee covered 30 percent of the JCESA budget. In the current fiscal year, that percentage has decreased to 18 percent (chart below).
Fee Set Low From The Start
The Jefferson County Commission has been holding town hall meetings at all of the volunteer fire companies in recent weeks. During these sessions, several volunteer fire chiefs recounted their memories of how the Commission set the “ambulance fee” in 2014. According to the chiefs, when the Commission was working on drafting the ordinance authorizing the ambulance fee, they considered a high, medium, and low fee option. The Commission ultimately opted to set the fees below the “low” option when they adopted the ordinance in 2014. In 2019, the Commission further reduced the fee for owner-occupied residences to its present level of $39 per year. For residents who are 65 or older and qualify for the property tax “homestead exemption,” the ambulance fee is only $20 per year.
For comparison, Berkeley County’s ambulance fee for owner-occupied residences is $110 per year, reduced to $85 for properties with a homestead exemption. In Morgan County, the fee for residences is $150 per year.
What This Gap Means For Services And Residents
A static fee amid rising operating costs is likely to force choices: the County can absorb the shortfall from other revenues, cut services or staffing, or raise the fee. Each option carries trade-offs:
Absorbing costs shifts the burden to the general fund, potentially competing with other county priorities.
Cutting or scaling back ambulance coverage could increase response times or reduce spare capacity during peak demand.
Raising the fee would provide an increase to the dedicated funding for ambulance services, but may prompt concerns from some taxpayers.
When the County Commission reorganized the JCESA two years ago from an independent agency into a county department, it did not update the ordinance, but it made it clear that all of the JCESA duties and obligations were absorbed by the Commission itself — so presumably the County Commission will conduct the public hearing this year and make recommendations to itself.
A message from Shepherd University
HOMECOMING WEEKEND RESTAURANT PASSPORT
In lieu of a traditional Homecoming after-party, the Shepherd University Alumni Association has arranged for specials and discounts at participating Shepherdstown restaurants. Staff, faculty and alumni visiting for the game can pick up passports in the Alumni Affairs Office (McMurran Hall) between Monday, Oct. 20 and Thursday, Oct. 23, 9 am.–3 pm. Other events for homecoming weekend include ghost tours, kids events, and a late-night 80s/90s dance party at Panagiotas Restaurant. >>>Details & event registrations…
Appalachian Snail Market & Cafe Opens In Harpers Ferry
Appalachian Snail Market & Cafe held a ribbon cutting on September 20. The market has been in soft open mode for several months, but the September event celebrated the opening of the dining room and outdoor patio. Daniel Costello, the young and energetic owner (at the coffee machine, above), will talk at length about the “slow food movement” and how he sources all of his ingredients and products as locally as possible. He hopes to see people make this a hangout, where they can “come, slow down, and commune.” Costello summarizes his menu as specialty coffee & tea, farm-fresh groceries, simple sandwiches, and locally-produced ice cream. The cafe is located at 970 West Washington St, Harpers Ferry.
The book sale continues for one more weekend — don’t miss out!
Washington Homes Tour This Weekend Only
Before he turned to military service and politics, George Washington was a surveyor. While he made his home in Mount Vernon,south of Alexandria Virginia, he encouraged all of his brothers to purchase land in what is now Jefferson County.
This weekend, the Jefferson County Museum and the Friends of Happy Retreat have organized open houses at four of these historic homes: Beallair, Claymont, Happy Retreat, and Harewood. Visitors will be able to explore the ground level of each building and learn about the histories of these structures, their occupants, and their restorations.
Tickets for the tour are $35 in advance (available online) or $40 at the door (click on the links above for locations).
Experience big screen frights at the Shepherdstown Opera House. We’ll be screening some Halloween favorites and some cult classics throughout the month. Our snack bar will be open (popcorn, snacks, soda, beer & wine). Come in costume and take a selfie at the spookiest theater around!
SCC Legendary Book Sale — Thousands of gently used books, plus puzzles, CDs, and more, at this annual fundraiser for the Shepherdstown Community Club. Shepherdstown Community Club (102 East German Street, Shepherdstown). Friday, October 10–Sunday, October 19. Info…
Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival — Multi-day celebration of the harvest season. Multiple venues in Martinsburg. Through Sunday, Oct 19. Prices vary by event. Info...
Candy Drop at the Depot District — Halloween candy drop event for kids. Depot District Park, Charles Town. Friday, Oct 17, 6 pm. Presented by Jefferson County Parks & Recreation and Charles Town Now. Free. Info...
Little Shop of Horrors — Musical theater production at the Old Opera House, 204 N George St, Charles Town. Friday, Oct 17–Sunday, Oct 26. $ Tickets & Info...
Aristotle Jones & Porch Pickin’ Quartet — Live performance by acclaimed soul, gospel, folk, and blues artist based in Osage, WV. Shepherdstown Opera House, 131 West German St, Shepherdstown. Friday, Oct 17, 7 pm. $ Tickets & Info...
Apolloween: Haunted Maze — Spooky theatrical experience at the Apollo Civic Theater in Martinsburg. Friday, Oct 17–Saturday, Oct 18, 7 pm. $ Tickets & Info...
Haunted Berryville — Historical haunted tours in Berryville, VA. Friday, Oct 17–Saturday, Oct 18. Presented by Clarke County Historical Society. $ Tickets & Info...
Shepherdstown Yard Sale — Community-wide yard sale event. Various locations around Shepherdstown. Saturday, Oct 18, 9 am–6 pm. Free admission. Info...
Washington Homes Tour — Tour the historic homes of the Washington family across Jefferson County. Saturday, Oct 18, 11 am–5 pm. $ Info...
Common Good Festival — Community event with vendors, community resources, live music, and classes on food & agriculture, herbal wellness and stress management. Sacred Roots Herbal Sanctuary, Shepherdstown. Saturday, Oct 18, noon–5 pm. $ Tickets & Info….
Fall Fest — Autumn family-friendly festival with activities and entertainment at Sam Michaels Park. Saturday, Oct 18, 2–9 pm. Free admission. Info...
Rotary Beer & Food Fest — Live music, craft beer and food tasting fundraiser to benefit youth and mentorship programs in Jefferson County featuring 80s cover band The Reflex. Morgan's Grove Park, Shepherdstown. Saturday, Oct 18, 4 - 8 pm. $ Tickets & Info...
Farm to Table Dinner — Seasonal dinner featuring local ingredients at the Tabler Farm Agricultural Innovation Center, 482 Billmyer Mill Rd, Shepherdstown. Saturday, Oct 18, 4:30–6:30 pm. $ Tickets & Info...
Howl-O-Ween Paws & Claws Dinner & Auction — Annual fundraiser dinner and auction for Animal Welfare Society of Jefferson County. Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Charles Town. Saturday, Oct 18, 5:30 pm. $ Tickets & Info...
Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire — Documentary screening about the famous Holocaust survivor, author and advocate. Shepherdstown Opera House, 131 West German St, Shepherdstown. Saturday, Oct 18, 7 pm. $ Tickets & Info...
Sip & Screen at the Opera House — Family-friendly movie screening of Monsters Inc (Rated G). Shepherdstown Opera House, 131 West German St, Shepherdstown. Sunday, Oct 19, 3 pm. Free. Info...
Bike Virginia is coming to Jefferson County this weekend, with hundreds of cyclists registered to visit Antietam, Harpers Ferry, Shepherdstown and Martinsburg. >>>Event details & map…
