Princeton's 911 ambulance calls are now being answered by crews from Allegiance Mobile Health, which took over the service at 7 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, under a five-year contract the City Council approved in July.
The agreement puts three Mobile Intensive Care Unit ambulances inside the city around the clock, and the contract says those units are to be used only for 911 emergency calls within city limits. Before the switch, the city had no ambulance assigned to it alone. eExtra News reported that the new units carry Princeton EMS branding.
Emergency calls still go through 911. What changed is whose crews respond.
Why the city switched
Princeton had been part of a regional ambulance coalition that relied on American Medical Response (AMR).
In a July 13 memo to council, the Fire Department said that arrangement cost the city about $690,000 a year and did not guarantee a dedicated ambulance, because units assigned to Princeton could be moved elsewhere in the county to keep coverage, leaving stretches with no ambulance immediately available in town.
A Fire Department presentation to council said the coalition had lost three member cities over four years, raising Princeton's share by $450,000, and that the department had little say over EMS staffing, quality checks or clinical direction. The department said it reviewed several providers and models before recommending Allegiance. Proposals from Acadian and AMR were listed among the supporting documents.
Council adopted Resolution 2026-07-13-R01 authorizing the city manager to sign the agreement.
Cost and term
The city will pay Allegiance $500,000 a year, or about $41,667 a month. The payment schedule lists a $560,000 annual subsidy reduced by a $60,000 city housing allowance. The contract runs from Nov. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2031, then renews a year at a time unless either side gives notice. Either party may also end it with 30 days' written notice.
City staff estimated the change will save about $291,000 a year, in part because medical director services are now included, plus $10,000 or more a year on medical supplies.
Response times
Under the contract's performance standard, Allegiance must reach emergency calls inside Princeton city limits in 8 minutes 59 seconds or less at least 90% of the time. If it falls below 90% for two months in a row, the company must add ambulances.
