New contract will create a surplus for the City of Vicksburg

Last updated: August 25, 2026

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — “It is the residents who will see the benefit,” said Vicksburg Fire Chief Trey Martin in reference to the new contract between the City of Vicksburg and Merit Health River Region.

At the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting held today, Tuesday, Aug. 25, the Board made a groundbreaking decision to partner with the local hospital in order to provide ambulance transport services. Under the new contract the City of Vicksburg‘s ambulance service will be able to provide transportation of patients from the hospital back to their homes in discharge cases, in addition to provide services for transporting patients to hospitals in in the Jackson area.

The department will have a 24-hour dedicated ambulance for the specific use of the service.

“We look forward to increased revenue for the city,” explained Chief Martin to the Board.

Vicksburg Mayor Willis Thompson echoed Chief Martin’s enthusiasm about the new partnership.

“This is a great opportunity for the city to partner with our local healthcare community, and also be able to create a source of revenue for the city. It’s important, as I’ve stated before that we’re one of the few cities that offers its own ambulance service. It’s opportunities like this that allows us to continue to offer that service because we have to pay for medicine, equipment, retain employees and all the things that are necessary to keep the service going. I do believe we are a safer city because of that. We can strategically place ambulances across the city. It means faster response times and that’s life or death,” said Mayor Thompson. “This contract allows us to run the service with a surplus, and there’s not many services the city runs that we actually can create a surplus and not run services at a deficit.”

Mayor Thompson said this will be the first time the ambulance service will be able to run with a surplus.

The Board voted unanimously to approve the contract.