EXHIBIT 99.1

CONTACT:  Liz Merritt, Rural/Metro Corporation,  (480) 606-3337
          FD Morgen-Walke, Investor Relations
          Jim Byers (investors), (415) 439-4504
          Christopher Katis (media), (415) 439-4515

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

            RURAL/METRO ANNOUNCES NEED TO INCREASE ITS ALLOWANCE FOR
          DISCOUNTS AND DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS; THIRD-QUARTER RESULTS TO BE
                  RELEASED UPON COMPLETION OF RELATED ANALYSIS

     SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. (May 14, 2003) - Rural/Metro Corporation (Nasdaq: RURL),
a leading national provider of ambulance and fire protection services, announced
today that it has identified the need to increase its allowance for Medicare,
Medicaid and contractual discounts and doubtful accounts in the range of $35
million to $45 million.

     Jack Brucker, President and Chief Executive Officer said, "We have
identified the need to increase the allowance for discounts and doubtful
accounts in connection with the ongoing evaluation of the collectibility of our
accounts receivable. We are in the process of quantifying the actual amount of
the required charge."

     Brucker continued, "We believe that adequate provision was made for
revenues recognized for periods subsequent to our fiscal 2000 operational
restructuring initiative; however, collections on accounts receivable generated
prior to that time (pre-June 2000) have proven to be substantially less than
originally anticipated, thereby impacting the adequacy of our current
allowance."

     A charge in the range of $35-$45 million will cause the company to be out
of compliance with certain covenants contained in its amended bank agreement.
Brucker said, "We have an excellent relationship with our lenders and are
working on a variety of alternatives to structure an amended credit agreement.
We are hopeful that we will resolve this matter expeditiously."

     Brucker continued, "This charge is not expected to have a material impact
on our operating cash flows relative to revenues generated after the
restructuring, nor does it impact the company's current cash balances. We have
generated positive cash flows from operating activities on a year-to-date basis
and have made progress in key operating statistics, which is reflected in steady
revenue growth, new business awards, renewals from long-standing municipal and
commercial customers, and enhanced contract rates.

     The company will file a request with the Securities and Exchange Commission
seeking the permitted five-day extension for filing its Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended March 31, 2003, and will report its results for the third quarter
once the related analysis with respect to its accounts receivable has been
completed.

     Rural/Metro Corporation provides emergency and non-emergency medical
transportation, fire protection, and other safety services in 26 states and more
than 400 communities throughout the United States.

     EXCEPT FOR HISTORICAL INFORMATION HEREIN, THIS PRESS RELEASE CONTAINS
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE
ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY. THESE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES INCLUDE,
AMONG OTHERS, THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS OF THE COMPANY'S ACCOUNTING FOR
ITS ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE; THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO COLLECT ITS ACCOUNTS
RECEIVABLE; COMPETITORS' ACTIONS; LITIGATION MATTERS; AND THE COMPANY'S ABILITY
TO SUSTAIN OPERATING CASH FLOW, SECURE NEW CONTRACTS, RETAIN EXISTING CONTRACTS,
IMPROVE EARNINGS AND OPERATING MARGINS, FURTHER ENHANCE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE
COLLECTION PROCESS, EFFECTIVELY MANAGE COLLATERAL REQUIREMENTS AND COSTS RELATED
TO ITS INSURANCE COVERAGE, AND THE OUTCOME OF NEGOTIATIONS ON A WAIVER OF
COVENANT COMPLIANCE OR AMENDMENT TO ITS CREDIT FACILITY. ADDITIONAL FACTORS THAT
COULD AFFECT THE COMPANY ARE DESCRIBED IN OUR FORM 10-K AS AMENDED FOR THE YEAR
ENDED JUNE 30, 2002 UNDER THE CAPTION " RISK FACTORS " IN THE MD&A SECTION, AND
OTHER FACTORS AS DESCRIBED FROM TIME TO TIME IN OUR SEC FILINGS. THE COMPANY
DISCLAIMS ANY OBLIGATION TO UPDATE ITS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.