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Finance committee advances EMS ambulance budget amendment after Trinity Health exit
Summary
The Wilmington Finance Committee voted to send Ordinance 25-011 — an amendment to the FY2025 operating budget to fund the city’s immediate takeover of ambulance service — to full council after presentations from administration and the fire chief outlining staffing, equipment and short-term costs.
The Wilmington Finance Committee on Wednesday advanced Ordinance 25-011, an amendment to the FY2025 operating budget to fund the city’s planned takeover of ambulance services after Trinity Health notified the city it would end its contract with Saint Francis Hospital.
Deputy Chief of Staff Stephanie Mergler told the committee that “Trinity Health, which is the parent company of Saint Francis Hospital, informed the city in February that they will no longer be able to provide ambulance service, as of 06/28/2025.” The administration said the city’s planned response is to move EMS into the Fire Department and staff ambulances with city firefighters certified as emergency medical technicians.
Rob Winkler of the budget office summarized the amendment’s financial mechanics: $679,000 of unused funds from the now-terminated Saint Francis contract would be reprogrammed to cover EMS startup costs “so there’s no overall increase in the FY2025 budget” because the money is already appropriated. The largest single reallocation — $513,000 — would go to personal services in the Fire Department to increase authorized strength by 30 positions. Winkler explained those personnel costs reflect roughly two months of salary and benefits, covering the remainder of FY2025.
Chief Looney described operational plans: hiring 30 firefighter–EMTs to begin training in the department’s academy, which “will commence on 05/05/2025,” with the goal of staffing five ambulances around the clock by late summer. “Hiring of the additional personnel enables us to staff a total of 5 ambulances working 24, 7 days a week in service, completely in service by late summer,” he said. The administration said five ambulances represent an increase from the Trinity Health contract, which provided four full-time ambulances and a fifth on a 12-hour “power shift.”
Other line items in the amendment include $5,000 to upgrade an existing lieutenant position to a battalion chief for EMS and special operations, $22,000 for a civilian EMS manager to handle insurance billing, and $166,000 in MS&E within Information Technology for radios, laptops and tablets.
Committee members questioned staffing details and deployment. Council member Cabrera asked whether five units matched prior capacity; Chief Looney replied it is an increase from the previous contract and that “through our own research, historical data, we feel that 5 ambulance is suitable to provide the service.” Council members also confirmed that fire engines will continue to respond to some medical calls in addition to the new ambulances.
After discussion, the committee accepted a motion to move Ordinance 25-011 out of committee for a full council vote at the April 17 council meeting. The motion was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote; committee members voiced “aye” and no nays were recorded on the transcript.
The ordinance will appear on the full Wilmington City Council agenda on April 17 for final action.
