Gadsden County commissioners narrow budget choices on EMS, summer youth and nonprofit reserve

GADSDEN COUNTY — Gadsden County commissioners on Thursday held their sixth budget workshop and gave staff direction on several high-cost items that will shape the county’s proposed budget ahead of the tentative hearing.

Commissioners and staff focused on five topics: emergency medical services (EMS) planning and cost estimates, the summer youth employment program, property insurance premiums, a proposed nonprofit reserve fund and preliminary millage guidance. No final millage vote was taken; commissioners stated preferences and directed staff to prepare numbers under multiple scenarios for upcoming meetings.

The most immediate item was EMS. County staff and EMS leadership described a staffing plan that would add a shift and change pay structure. “When it’s all said and done, it would be about a $200,000 increase to what we are currently budgeted for,” said Mister Ford, an EMS representative who presented the plan. Ford and other staff told the board that EMS bills roughly $6 million on paper but, after Medicare, Medicaid and bad-debt adjustments, net collections have been closer to $3.5 million — meaning the balance is covered by transfers from the county’s general fund.

Why it matters: County staff estimated the EMS operation will require a budget in the roughly $5.0–$5.1 million range if the proposal is adopted. Commissioners raised questions about call volume, local comparators and whether the staffing changes would…