Cole County EMS adopts 10% fee increase; commissioners debate pay scale, insurance and vehicle-monitoring pilot

Cole County commissioners on Dec. 10 voted to adopt a 10% across‑the‑board increase in fees for Cole County EMS for 2025, a measure the department says will help offset rising fuel, maintenance and medical‑supply costs.

The county’s EMS chief described the fee increase during the commission’s budget hearing and urged approval, saying the increase places the service “in the sweet spot” relative to pending state legislation that would set private‑insurance payments at 325% of the Medicare rate. The commission approved the fees by voice vote.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the fee change will help the self‑sustaining EMS enterprise fund cover higher operating costs without drawing on general revenue. Commissioners and EMS leaders also debated a proposed employee pay‑scale change that would alter starting pay, eliminate two low steps, expand the top steps and phase certain holiday double‑pay rules back to align with other county departments.

Details of the fee vote and budget discussion - At the budget hearing, the EMS chief proposed a 10% fee increase for 2025, citing higher fuel, maintenance and supply costs and…