Clear Creek County to advance EMS request for three FTEs, ambulance resiliency discussed

Rachel (presenter, EMS staff) told the board the ambulance fund request for fiscal 2026 rises principally for two reasons: a request for three additional full-time equivalents and capital replacement of cardiac monitors that have been deferred until they are no longer serviceable.

“At the very bottom, you can see 270,042. That specific purchase…we did receive full funding from the EMTS grant for 2026, so we'll get a $135,000 back,” Rachel said, explaining part of the monitor purchase will be covered by grant funds.

Staff framed overtime as largely mandatory: most paramedics work industry-standard extended shifts (56 hours weekly), producing built‑in overtime. Rachel said the budget line that shows $740,000 for overtime includes roughly $630,000 of built‑in, guaranteed overtime that is effectively part of salary and about $110,000 of additional overtime for coverage of unplanned absences.

Commissioners asked whether adding FTEs would reduce overtime expense. Rachel said hiring three FTEs would increase the department’s ability to run an additional ambulance more consistently and improve response resiliency, but it would not fully eliminate the built‑in overtime because shift patterns are an industry norm and shifting to a 40‑hour model would substantially increase base wages.

Commissioners agreed to move the FTE request forward for inclusion in the next cut of the proposed budget and asked staff to return with clearer revenue and fund‑balance projections before the Nov. 17 finalization deadline.

Ending: The board’s direction will let staff include the three FTEs in the working FY2026 budget. Staff will return with refined revenue, grant and fund‑balance estimates at the Nov. 17 final cut.