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Davidson County moves on 9‑1‑1/EMS pay and recruitment measures; board approves headhunter extension and data tracking
Summary
Faced with rising vacancies in the county’s 9‑1‑1 center and EMS, commissioners approved a pay adjustment for telecommunicators, extended contracts with recruitment firms, and directed staff to track retention; staff also described a state-funded automated dispatch (Locution) system proposal that the 9‑1‑1 board would largely fund.
Davidson County commissioners on May 1 voted to pursue a mix of pay adjustments and recruitment strategies aimed at reducing vacancies in the county’s 9‑1‑1 call center and emergency-medical services, and they approved an extension of recruitment/placement contracts while asking staff to report back on retention.
Commissioners discussed a prolonged shortage of telecommunicators (TCs) and EMS staff. County 9‑1‑1 and EMS staff described vacancy rates that have crept upward in recent months and attributed recent departures largely to higher pay offers from neighboring centers, hospitals and private ambulance companies. Staff described the competitive regional market: some neighboring jurisdictions — notably High Point and Guilford Metro — have raised starting pay and implemented aggressive pay incentives, which County staff said has increased recruitment pressure.
After deliberation the board signaled support for an immediate pay adjustment intended to improve competitiveness for 9‑1‑1 hiring. Commissioners agreed to increase the starting hourly pay for…
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