Committee favors funding EMS support grant from general fund; flags small consumables gap and possible foundation support

County staff asked the committee to consider placing a newly awarded emergency medical services (EMS) support grant into the general fund rather than creating a capital project. The presenter said the grant covered personal services and that putting the award in the general fund would avoid adding unnecessary capital‑project accounting steps for personnel costs.

Committee members discussed staffing implications and the grant’s intent to shore up local advanced life support (ALS) capacity in areas where coverage has been reducing. The presenter said certain consumable medical supplies—bandages, pharmacy supplies and similar items—were not covered by the grant; the presenter cited a supplies shortfall figure during the discussion at about $5,000 for items not covered by the grant. Another speaker suggested seeking philanthropic support, naming the Mary McFallon Foundation and noting an amount of $25,000 as a possible supplemental request to cover additional or related costs.

Members debated funding the non‑grant consumables from contingency versus fund balance. One committee member recommended using contingency so the expenditure would receive oversight. The committee recorded a motion and second to fund the staffing from the general fund and to use contingency to cover consumables if necessary; the motion was seconded and the committee recorded the voice vote as carried.

Staff were directed to pursue contingency funding as the immediate source for uncovered consumables and to explore foundation or other grant sources for supplemental funding.