Supervisors weigh making county EMS director full time as ambulance revenue and levy use are reviewed

Osceola County supervisors discussed staffing and funding for emergency medical services (EMS), with several members urging conversion of the ambulance director position to full time and others recommending an incremental approach.

County officials reported increases in local ambulance runs (examples cited: 614 runs in 2023, 533 in 2022 and 547 in 2021) and reviewed current revenue streams: ambulance collections are remitted to the general fund and a private collection contractor (PCC) takes a percentage of collections. Staff said ambulance revenue last year was roughly in the mid-$200,000s before collection fees and transfers to the general fund have been used to subsidize EMS operations.

Supervisors and the ambulance director (Sandy) discussed compensating EMS staff and how a levy approved earlier was intended to support EMS. Several supervisors suggested hiring part time initially or increasing rates (base and mileage) before committing to a full-time director; others pointed to the hospital as a potential partner for staffing support and to grant funding as another option.

The board also asked for a formal annual EMS report (as required by a levy) showing revenues, PCC costs, and net funds available so the supervisors can determine whether ambulance collections should be retained in an EMS fund after reimbursing the general fund for collection-related expenses.

Ending: No formal staffing decision was made. Staff were asked to present a clearer annual report on ambulance revenue and PCC costs and to return with options (part-time hire, full-time conversion, or rate changes) for the board to consider at a future meeting.