Leaders of the Highlander Fire Protection District presented an operational update to Floyd County commissioners on July 1 that outlined personnel incentives, a new billing arrangement and plans to add an ambulance — while county officials pressed for clearer monthly reporting and a funding plan beyond the district's contract term.

Captain Young, speaking for Highlander, said the district has added pay incentives to raise clinical coverage: an annual $5,000 stipend for personnel holding Advanced EMT certification and an additional $12,000 annually for paramedics. Young said the district moved to a new billing company, MedBill, and projected reimbursements of “approximately 585,000” (dollars) that would help offset costs. He also said Highlander expects delivery of a third new ambulance in December and plans to certify engines as advanced life-support (non-transport) units to raise on-scene care.

Board president Matt Smith reviewed the district's debt position: an outstanding bond for a Lafayette station of about $659,000 at 4.42% interest; an engine with roughly $369,000 at 2.18%; and a recently acquired unit (referred to as Quad 11) with approximately $870,000 at 4.94% — a combined debt position the board estimated at about $1.8 million. Smith said the district's cumulative fund exceeded $1 million and that the ambulance purchase is expected to be paid from cash.

Commissioners and the district debated operational compliance with the county contract. County officials said they had received reports that Highlander had sometimes been unable to provide transports and that the county had not been receiving monthly run reports required by the contract. Captain Young said transports for the coroner were deprioritized when 911 calls required the ambulance and accepted responsibility for missed reporting, promising to provide the required monthly reports and to improve transparency.

District leaders said current contract funding from the county continues through February 2026 and that long-term funding beyond that date is unresolved. County staff cited state fiscal analyses suggesting the district could face projected reductions in revenues tied to recent legislation — figures discussed in the meeting estimated reductions of roughly $216,080 in 2026, $258,510 in 2027 and $316,900 in 2028 — and commissioners asked for clarity on how Highlander plans to sustain EMS operations if the county does not continue current funding levels.

Why this matters: Highlander's EMS operations provide front-line medical response in parts of Floyd County. The district's staffing, billing and capital plans affect response capacity and taxpayer costs. The meeting surfaced substantive data and follow-up requests that commissioners said they need before making long-term funding decisions.

Ending: Captain Young pledged to provide the contract-mandated monthly run and response reports and to work with county officials on funding scenarios as the February 2026 contract milestone approaches.