MONROE COUNTY, Fla. – Monroe County commissioners voted Wednesday to move forward with the purchase of new medical helicopters.
Officials plan to spend about $52 million to replace the 22-year-old Trauma Star helicopters that fly patients from Monroe County to hospitals in Miami-Dade County.
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The area has one of the busiest air ambulance services in the country with over 1,400 transports a year, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
To cover the cost of replacing the old helicopters, commissioners will be transferring funds from the already-approved infrastructure sales tax that is paid mostly by tourists.
Related story: Florida Keys officials consider spending $52 million on new medical helicopters