EMS finance work group formed to stabilize providers; county anticipates modest budget shift and revenue gain

County EMS leaders told the Public Safety Committee on Aug. 19 that a newly formed EMS finance work group will study ways to stabilize local EMS agencies and explore alternative funding approaches as some services statewide have closed or reduced operations.
Work group members noted that around 25% of EMS agencies statewide between 2019 and 2023 reduced services or shuttered, and committee members said Columbia County should consider options to avoid similar closures. One supervisor asked how to include non-taxable parcels in a countywide funding model; the work group agreed to consider funding models that do not rely solely on traditional tax assessments.
Members discussed Greene County’s plan to create a countywide municipal EMS system with a projected budget in the millions, and noted that the formation of a municipal system may draw EMTs away from smaller local agencies because municipal systems can offer benefits and higher wages.
The EMS budget presented for Aug. 19 was largely level, with a modest 2.3% reduction overall from the previous year; staff said two small cost increases were offset by reductions elsewhere. EMS officials said they also projected an additional $28,000 in county revenue tied to transports and a contract with a regional hospital for certain emergency transports.
Committee members carried a routine resolution to transfer funds and approved the EMS budget actions on voice votes. EMS staff said the finance work group will return with more concrete options for cost-equalization and alternative revenue approaches in future meetings.