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Pecan Plantation EMS asks Hood County for a share of EMS funds during budget hearings
Summary
Pecan Plantation EMS requested county funding to sustain operations and retain medics, proposing the county allocate roughly 20% of EMS funds (about $90,000) to support backup 9‑1‑1 coverage and staffing for southern Hood County.
At a public hearing on the proposed Hood County fiscal 2026 budget on Aug. 26, Sam Graff, executive director of Pecan Plantation EMS, asked commissioners to allocate a portion of county EMS funding to his volunteer system to improve sustainability, staffing and countywide emergency coverage.
Graff told the court Pecan EMS currently relies on insurance reimbursement and a $20 per-household contribution from Pecan residents, without the stable local funding streams some EMS systems receive. He said the agency staffs three ambulances 24/7 with paramedics and EMTs but struggles to offer competitive pay and benefits, leading to recruitment and retention pressure. Graff said Pecan EMS responds countywide when larger systems are taxed and volunteers to be first-out for certain southern areas if funding supports that role.
Commissioners asked for a dollar figure. Graff cited rumors of total EMS funding near $450,000 (transcript reference unclear) and said Pecan EMS provides approximately 20% of Hood County calls, requesting a proportional share (about $90,000) to support operations. The auditors and commissioners noted budget hearings continue and the court will vote on the budget in a future session.
Why it matters: Rural and suburban EMS systems across Texas are facing funding and staffing shortages. The request, if accepted, would shift county EMS funding priorities and affect the FY2026 budget allocations.
What’s next: Commissioners noted the budget vote is scheduled for a later court and said they would consider Pecan EMS’s request when finalizing allocations.
