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Commissioners fund EMA director increase, debate assistant role; approve community paramedic into budget
Summary
During budget hearings commissioners increased the EMA director salary, debated whether an EMA administrative assistant should be part‑time or full‑time, and approved making the community paramedic a county position after its grant ends.
The Board of Commissioners approved an increased base salary for the county’s emergency management director and approved placing the county’s community paramedic position into the local budget after the grant that funded it expires.
EMA director and assistant: Commissioners approved raising the advertised or proposed EMA director base to $50,000 for recruitment purposes. The board discussed an administrative assistant role for EMA and the tradeoffs between hiring the assistant as a part‑time (29 hours) or full‑time position. After discussion the board approved adding the assistant as a full‑time position, subject to classification and benefit costs; commissioners asked staff to rework lines to account for benefits and to report the payroll impact.
Community paramedic: The county approved keeping the community paramedic position (previously grant‑funded) in the county budget going forward. Commissioners heard that the paramedic provides continuity of care after hospital discharge, supports local fire departments with lift assists and fall calls, and yields cost avoidance for hospital readmissions; the board voted to include the paramedic’s salary in the 2026 budget.
Why it matters: EMA and public‑health related positions contribute to emergency response, community health and interagency coordination. Commissioners specifically noted the paramedic’s role in reducing hospital readmissions and supporting emergency services across the county.
Next steps: County HR and payroll will incorporate the EMA director salary increase and the administrative assistant classification into the budget, and the ambulance/EMS budget office will finalize the community paramedic placement. The board asked staff to review the best long‑term fund source for the paramedic (EMS/ambulance fund versus general fund) and return with options for the final appropriation.
