TUCKER, Ga. --
CBS Atlanta had tough questions for the DeKalb County fire chief about $3 million recently spent on 11 new ambulances that may soon be useless.
The county commission has ordered the fire department to turn over ambulance services to a private company, so the new equipment would not be necessary.
"I wouldn't say they were a waste of money," said acting Fire Chief Eddie O'Brien. "We generate revenue from transporting patients."
However, the county never made the money it thought it would on the ambulances. In fact, it's been losing money transporting people to the hospital.
The county unveiled the new state-of-the-art ambulances in August of 2009.
Asked if the $3 million worth of new ambulances would be parked, the chief said, "It's too early to speculate on that. Right now, facing $7.1 million in cuts, anything's possible."
The county is asking department heads to cut their spending in an effort to slash $33 million from the overall budget.
"I don't want to start a panic, but we are looking at personnel right now," said O'Brien.
Commissioner Lee May told CBS Atlanta the ambulances could be sold, though he admitted the county will never recoup its full investment.
"We're going to make the best decision based on the numbers," said May.
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