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New EMS director outlines staffing needs, ambulance replacement plans and community paramedic funding

5812285 ยท August 27, 2025

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Summary

New EMS director summarized staffing gaps, an ongoing effort to hire PRN personnel and the need to replace an ambulance; council approved an EMS budget without the rescinded 2.7% raise and asked staff to return with details on grant-funded community paramedic positions.

David Sanchez, the county's EMS director, appeared at the council's budget hearing and described staffing, vehicle replacement and program-funding needs for the coming year. He told council he is working to bring on PRN staff and that the agency remains short of its full staffing complement.

Ambulance replacement and procurement was a key point: the director said vehicle lead times and price inflation have pushed replacement costs higher, and the department has budgeted for a replacement vehicle this year while acknowledging that delivery times remain long. Councilors discussed recent experience acquiring a vehicle and noted the market remains tight; the EMS director told the council that a typical new ambulance request now is in the high hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Community paramedic program: The council discussed a community paramedic role that has been funded by a grant through 2025 (and may run into 2026 depending on grant terms). The program provides in-home and community-based care to reduce unnecessary transports and downstream hospitalizations. Councilors agreed to defer decisions about permanent local funding for the community paramedic position until they see final budget totals.

Council vote: The council approved the EMS budget for the 2025 fiscal year at the hearing with raises removed and asked EMS and finance staff to return with updated totals reflecting the removal of the 2.7% COLA and the fringe adjustments.

Why it matters: Staffing and ambulance availability directly affect emergency response capacity and transport times. The community paramedic program also affects EMS workload and county healthcare costs.