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Salisbury and Wicomico County officials press for multiyear EMS/fire reimbursement and catch‑up payments
Summary
Salisbury city leaders and Salisbury Fire Department officials outlined a multi‑million dollar reimbursement request and urged a multiyear agreement with the county to resolve back payments and future reimbursement escalators.
Representatives from the City of Salisbury and Salisbury Fire Department urged Wicomico County Council members on May 1 to settle multi‑year reimbursements for fire and emergency medical services and to negotiate a multi‑year contract to avoid recurring disputes.
Salisbury Mayor Randy Taylor and Fire Chief (name identified in transcript as Ralph Raims) described a multi‑million reimbursement request that city officials characterize as efforts to recover costs for services provided to county residents and to create a predictable formula for future payments. “All we’re really trying to do is recover our costs,” Mayor Randy Taylor said, adding that the city seeks a baseline reimbursement with an escalator to avoid repeated disputes.
City presenters said earlier catch‑up payments and an ongoing reimbursement for calendar‑year service have produced a request that they described as approximately $3 million spread over multiple years. Salisbury’s representatives said a previous council negotiation had contemplated a three‑year arrangement with catch‑up payments; the city said some of that negotiation shifted during earlier meetings and they want a clearer, shorter agreement now. “Let’s get simple, keep it simple, and we’ll live with that risk of a 6% escalator,” the mayor said.
County administration staff and council members discussed placing a $1 million transfer from fund balance in FY2025 (as a budget amendment) to satisfy part of the city’s request and said the second $1 million referenced by city leaders needs further discussion tied to planning commission fees and other terms. County staff said the county included a $1 million figure for FY2025 in the administration’s materials and left the second $1 million for FY2026 open pending negotiation.
Salisbury leaders asked the county to consider a multi‑year agreement with an escalator to reduce repeated annual negotiations. County staff said they remain interested in a multiyear agreement that accounts for escalating costs, unions and capital planning, and noted that any multiyear arrangement must be approved by the county council. “We are still interested in a multi‑year agreement that also takes into consideration escalation and rising costs,” a county staff member said.
City and county officials agreed to continue negotiations between the executive branch and counsel and to return with more detailed proposals, metrics and, where needed, memoranda of understanding to support any multi‑year contract.
No formal action was taken during the work session; council members indicated the matter requires additional negotiation before a final budget amendment or multi‑year agreement is presented.
