The Wisconsin EMS Association strongly opposes any change in the Funding Assistance Program funding formula to include a grant process for the distribution of funding. As one of the founding organizations that lobbied in support of the funding mechanism that became Act 102, it has always been the intent of the Wisconsin EMS Association that these funds be provided equally to all qualifying ambulance services without regard to competition. The ability of smaller, volunteer-based ambulance services to adequately compete for necessary funding, no matter how simplified and equitable the grant process is constructed, is in question. Many of these small, volunteer ambulance services do not have the ability, time and resources to compete in any process where a panel or committee will subjectively judge the necessity of the EMS funding needs of the service. Many services may not even chose to commit the time to apply for a grant, thereby forfeiting part of their FAP allocation to other ambulance services. The reduction of the funding amounts of all ambulance services to provide for a pool of grant dollars for a few selected grant recipients is not in the best interest of Wisconsin EMS. The Wisconsin EMS Association supports the continued equal distribution to all eligible ambulance services of any dollars available through the Funding Assistance Program, and opposes any and all changes to include a grant process.