A new ambulance box will cost $1,600 less than expected, saving five townships and the City of St. Ignace hundreds of dollars. The new box, which is being remounted on an existing chassis, will cost $70,823 instead of the $72,483 quoted, according to Mark Wilk of Allied EMS.

The city and Brevort, Hendricks, Hudson, Moran, and St. Ignace townships were asked to share the cost in February. A remounted ambulance box would be as good as a new ambulance, Mr. Wilk said then, and it will cost much less than purchasing a new chassis and engine.

The lower cost will mean all the participants will pay less than anticipated. Moran Township will pay $298.77 less, while the City of St. Ignace will pay $780.12 less, for example. The amounts assume Moran Township and the city will pay in one lump sum. All participants have the option to pay their share over a period of three years, but would have to pay 4.5% interest.

The Moran Township Board of Trustees approved a lump-sum payment Wednesday, July 7, and the other townships and city will determine how they will pay later in the month.

Payment on the remounting is determined by the percentage of the total population Allied serves among the townships and the city. Brevort Township’s is 11%, and its share is $7,790.55, Hendricks Township is 3% and its portion is $2,124.70, Hudson Township's is 4% and its payment will be $2,832.93, Moran Township's is 18% and will pay $12,748.17, St. Ignace Township's is 17% and costs $12,039.94, and the City of St. Ignace makes up 47% and its share is $33,286.89.