Clay Smith, president of Professional Paramedics of Johnson County, told commissioners on Oct. 2 that key performance indicators released with the adopted 2026 budget show a sharp drop in employee satisfaction and rising turnover among emergency medical services staff.

"In 2024, nearly 89% of employees reported being happy to work here. In 2025, that number dropped to just 70.4%. In that same time, turnover rose to 17.4%, far above the county stated goal of 12%," Smith said. He said the figures reflect paramedics, EMTs and dispatchers experiencing higher call volume, staffing shortages and burnout.

Why it matters: Smith said EMS is one of the county’s most essential services and that the high public ratings the county receives depend on the sustained performance of EMTs and paramedics. He urged the board to turn supportive words into action to prevent further erosion of morale.

Board response and context: The board did not take formal action on the public comment. Commissioners praised county staff in general during later remarks and emphasized their commitment to supporting employees, but no specific staffing measure or budget amendment was proposed or voted on during the meeting.

Public comments on related topics: Multiple public commenters later raised concerns about homelessness, housing and other social services; commissioners noted ongoing regional efforts and partnerships to address housing needs during remarks later in the meeting.

What was not decided: The meeting record shows no formal motion or directive tied directly to the EMS KPI figures during the Oct. 2 session. Smith asked for actions that would translate workforce support into sustained staffing and pay measures, but the board’s action items during the meeting addressed other subjects.