City and county officials negotiate FY2026 EMS cost split as ambulance payments loom

At a joint city–county EMS committee meeting, city and county officials discussed a proposed cost split for fiscal year 2026 that would make the county responsible for roughly 39 percent of the county’s portion of EMS operating costs — about $968,370 — while the city would cover roughly $491,665 of capital for the same fiscal year. The committee also reviewed outstanding payments and timing for three ambulances expected in February 2026 and asked staff to present options for how to allocate chassis and module payments across fiscal years.

The proposal matters because capital purchases and delayed vendor deliveries have left uneven billing and sizable near‑term obligations that affect both budgets. Committee members said more detailed quarterly breakdowns and clearer documentation of split purchases would help both governing bodies reconcile invoices and avoid surprises.

City staff presented line‑item invoices showing purchases that had been billed to the EMS…