Ambulance rates in the city could be going up soon. Charleston City Council is going to vote on a potential 3-percent increase to ambulance services rates, a consistent theme for several years. The ambulance rates have gone up by 3 percent each year since 2016. Charleston Fire Chief Steve Bennett said officials review the price each year and judge whether there is a need for an increase. Rising operating costs that accounts for things such as increasing medical equipment cost was the reason for the increase. Dependent on care, this could mean a $25 increase to the bill at most, Bennett said.