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Commissioners debate paid firefighters, EMS ambulances and funding options including ballot or service fee
Summary
Emergency management and EMS budget lines nearly doubled in places as staff proposed adding paid firefighters, paramedics and two ambulances. Commissioners discussed funding options — a service fee, a dedicated tax or ballot measure — and asked staff to develop options and fiscal impacts.
Swain County commissioners reviewed proposals in emergency management, fire marshal staffing and EMS that would change the county’s service model and require new recurring funding.
Budget staff said the emergency-management budget increased substantially because the county is moving from volunteer/maintenance‑style positions toward two paid, certified firefighter positions and a full‑time fire marshal. The change roughly doubles the budget line for that department in staff projections because the salaries, workers’ compensation and training costs for certified personnel are higher than prior maintenance classifications.
EMS presented requests for two ambulances (the county typically budgets one new ambulance per year) and additional paramedic/field staff; staff and commissioners discussed the long procurement lead times and the capital cost of ambulances (meeting discussion referenced figures near $350,000 per unit). Several commissioners raised the idea of paying for expanded fire/EMS staffing through a dedicated service fee or a ballot measure so residents can decide whether to fund paid fire stations and related operations; others urged more detailed cost modelling before taking a position.
Why it matters: moving from volunteer or part‑time positions to paid, certified responders changes recurring payroll, benefits and workers’ compensation costs, and it affects response times and insurance ratings. Commissioners asked staff to prepare comparative revenue/funding options (service fee vs. tax vs. ballot question), to show the projected tax or fee impact on homeowners, and to refine ambulance procurement timelines and potential grant opportunities.
