Pulaski County approves $2-per-hour raise for full-time EMS staff after lengthy staffing debate

A representative for Pulaski County EMS told commissioners the department is operating with extended overtime, frequent transfers out of county and staffing shortages that have forced some employees to work more than 80-hour stretches to keep ambulances staffed. "We're talking sometimes they're at 96 hour shifts," the EMS representative said, describing extended shifts and the operational strain that follows.

The EMS representative outlined a proposal to reduce the pay gap between part-time and full-time staff. She said many part-time employees work full-time hours because part-time pay is currently higher and that a standardized pay structure could help recruitment and retention. "A lot of other counties have just completely across the board changed the rate so that all part time and full time are the same," the speaker said.

Commissioners debated options that included equalizing part-time and full-time pay and a larger $4 increase requested by EMS leadership; a motion to implement the $4 across-the-board change failed for lack of a second. Later in the meeting commissioners approved a motion to grant a $2-per-hour increase for full-time EMS staff. The motion was seconded and passed by the board; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally.

Commissioners and staff also discussed budget implications, the EMS fund balance, and the possibility of using an independent consulting study being funded by a local hospital to benchmark EMT and paramedic pay. EMS leadership said the county has brought back $254,794.88 to the EMS fund this year and noted the full-time budget still had unspent money but that continued overtime would likely require additional appropriations by year-end.

Board members urged EMS leadership to work with county staff on a matrix committee to manage pay-scale changes and to return with firm cost estimates before broad changes are finalized.