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Live Oak chooses amended Schertz EMS rate option in draft budget direction
Summary
At the July 22 workshop the City of Live Oak directed staff to pursue an amended interlocal agreement with Schertz EMS using a phased 20%/20%/5% increase option; staff said the choice saves the city tens of thousands of dollars over the term and will be returned to council as an interlocal agreement in August.
Live Oak, Texas — During the City of Live Oak—s July 22 budget workshop council directed staff to pursue an amendment to the city—s interlocal agreement with Schertz EMS using an option staff described as the more prudent phased increase (20% in year one, 20% in year two, 5% in year three) and to return a formal interlocal agreement for council consideration in August.
Staff told council the Schertz EMS contract is a five‑year interlocal arrangement that uses a per‑capita rate; the current base in the earlier contract was $17.52 per capita. Staff briefed council on two amendment proposals that Schertz presented: one that would have increased rates 35%/5%/5% across three years and a second phased option staff described as 20%/20%/5% over the next three years. Council and staff discussed staffing, run volumes and whether shifting to run‑time or call‑mix drivers in a formula would alter Live Oak—s share.
“...when you compare it to what it would cost for us to run it, it's an absolute bargain,” a staff presenter said, arguing that the interlocal model produces regional economies of scale compared with the city operating its own EMS service.
Staff presented the budget effect of the alternate options and said the council direction to select the 20%/20%/5% route would reduce the budgeted increase relative to the 35%/5%/5% option by roughly $46,000 in the first year of the working draft. Staff said they will return an interlocal agreement and ordinance or resolution for council consideration at the Aug. 12 meeting.
Council members asked for and received data on response volumes and run intensity, and discussed partnerships with area hospitals and possible alternative response models. Staff said Schertz provided historical run data going back to 2022 and that Live Oak's medic unit has among the highest call volumes in the partner set; council acknowledged that changes to the allocation formula that weight run volumes could increase Live Oak's share.
Next steps: staff will prepare the amended interlocal agreement and present it to council at the Aug. 12 meeting for formal action.
