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Council and commissioners discuss near-term county support, interlocal options for EMS funding
Summary
County leaders and EMS representatives discussed a proposed interlocal approach and near-term county contribution to maintain current ambulance and paramedic services while statutory local income tax changes are pending. Officials emphasized timing constraints tied to tax-council rules and asked for firm numbers to include in 2026 budgets.
County commissioners and council members spent the second portion of the work session discussing options to sustain emergency medical services as local tax rules change.
Commissioners and EMS representatives described recent steps to restore advanced life support (ALS) transfers and said ALS capability has been used for non-911 transfers and mutual-aid situations. An EMS representative said the service has performed ALS transfers and is increasing ALS-capable activity, but clarified that "ALS" transfer work and a full-time ALS 911 response are different operational commitments.
Officials discussed a draft interlocal approach among New Castle and nearby towns (Middletown, Shirley and others) to coordinate funding and services. Commissioners said they may ask the council to budget a near-term county contribution (discussed in the meeting as a several-hundred-thousand-dollar bridge) to continue current service levels until any new LIT-based revenue structure is implemented. Council staff noted statutory and advertising deadlines tied to the tax-council process and said the state allows only one levy-change opportunity per year, which limits when the county can increase LIT rates.
Participants emphasized that additional LIT revenue would both increase revenues and raise operating costs (more paramedic staffing, ALS equipment, monitoring/service contracts and vehicle replacement). "This will help us continue that and to have almost a reassurance that if we have an ambulance that breaks down, it's not gonna close the door," an EMS representative said, describing capital and reliability concerns.
Commissioners asked for firm budget figures and a timeline so the council can plan its 2026 appropriations. Staff and Baker Tilly agreed to provide updated revenue and expense estimates once 2026 assessed values and any DLGF guidance are available. The group also discussed contractual approaches that would allow the county to allocate or contract funds to smaller towns and volunteer departments in ways that preserve local services without immediate tax increases.
Ending: The commissioners indicated they will seek a near-term funding plan and requested that council staff hold dates for additional budget discussions; legal review and interlocal agreement drafting were identified as next steps before any formal commitment.
