Ulster County committee adopts $4.7 million EMS stabilization and enhancement plan

Ulster County’s Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee voted May 7 to adopt the Ulster County EMS Stabilization and Enhanced Plan and amend the 2025 county budget to provide $4.7 million aimed at sustaining and expanding emergency medical services across the county.

County officials and EMS leaders told legislators the plan is intended to stabilize a system strained by post‑COVID staffing losses and increasing readiness costs. "Without funding to address the cost of readiness ... our failing system will eventually collapse and we're pretty close," said Rich Miller, deputy director of emergency medical services, during a presentation to the committee.

The plan sets five equally weighted focal points: a financial component, oversight, coordination, education and accountability. It preserves existing employing arrangements and infrastructure while directing county funds to enhance local transport-capable EMS agencies and municipalities that accept responsibility for patient care. Director Scott Erickson reported recent call volume of 8,697 total calls, of which 5,030 were 911 calls — about 289 calls per day — underscoring officials' urgency to act.

Financially, the package breaks into two principal appropriations: $2,000,000 to support existing basic life support (BLS) jurisdictions and EMS agencies for staffing, wage stabilization and recruitment; and $2,700,000 to contract with existing advanced life support (ALS) "anchor" agencies and expand their operational territories using the county's ambulance operating certificate. County staff said allocations are distributed using a formula that weights assessed property value, population and call volume — each composing one-third of an agency or municipality's allocation — and that disbursements will be made across four designated categories described in the plan.

The county will require plans and periodic reviews before releasing subsequent installments: "All we are simply saying is as this money goes out, there will be a plan in place for how it's spent," Miller said. Anchor agencies will receive a higher upfront readiness payment (which the plan describes as 50% of that agency’s allocated readiness funding) because they are expected to expand coverage and may need equipment and staff immediately.

Legislators asked for clarifications about how the funds reach districts that do not provide transport. Legislator Roberts pressed for details on the $2,000,000 allocation; county staff said funds go only to transporting agencies and that non‑transporting fire districts that provide scene care but not ambulance service are not direct recipients. County staff noted commercial providers currently respond to some areas without formal contracts and that part of the plan’s work is to formalize responsibilities and contracts where needed.

Legislator Hewitt asked whether the industry is mainly for‑profit or nonprofit and whether national chains are displacing local providers. Miller and staff said commercial providers are not excluded, but the plan focuses on supporting locally based agencies and preserving mutual‑aid relationships; the intent is to keep decisions and oversight local.

The committee first voted to amend the resolution and then to adopt it as amended. Legislator Kovacs spoke in favor during the adoption motion, calling the plan a balance of fiscal responsibility and public safety. The resolution (committee file: Resolution 102) was approved by the committee.

Administratively the plan also calls for upgraded technology and training: the county recently rolled out Intelecom emergency medical dispatch software, upgraded live‑scan and records integrations with local police records management systems, and is pursuing training partnerships with the American Heart Association and Ulster County Community College to expand EMT and eventually paramedic instruction.

Implementation is framed as phased and dynamic: officials said the initial months will focus on allocations and coordination, followed by system status management, asset relocations and further regionalization of coverage. County staff and EMS leaders said they will continue working with municipal boards and fire district chiefs to refine coverage maps and contract terms.

The committee record shows the plan will be implemented over time with required reporting and oversight of disbursements; county staff indicated further local meetings with affected fire districts and EMS agencies to address specific local concerns. The plan’s supporters described it as a near‑term stabilization measure coupled with longer‑term workforce and training investments.