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Fire Department Seeks to Restore EMS Market Share, Reopen Engine 35 and Use Medi-Cal Reimbursements to Plug Budget Gaps
Summary
Chief Joanne Hayes-White presented a two-year Fire Department budget that assumes restored EMS exclusive operating rights, a one-time retroactive Medi-Cal supplemental reimbursement, reactivation of Engine 35 and new recruit classes to reduce overtime; supervisors asked for more detail on staffing and portable-water supply plans for seismic scenarios.
The San Francisco Fire Department presented its proposed two-year operating budget to the Budget & Finance Subcommittee on May 8, outlining staffing, revenue and capital priorities and identifying revenue opportunities tied to recent state policy changes.
Chief Joanne Hayes-White said the departments FY2012-13 operating budget is about $329 million, largely General Fund-supported, and proposed hiring 62 personnel (20 EMTs to restore ambulance staffing and 42 entry-level firefighters) to rebuild diminished ranks and reduce mandatory overtime. The department plans an EMT academy in July and a fire academy in the fall.
A key revenue assumption is the restoration of the departments Exclusive Operating Area (EOA) for 9-1-1 ambulance transports (restored by the state in January 2012), which the department projects could increase its transport market share from roughly 70% back toward historic levels of 85%. Chiefs estimated that moving market share closer to the historic level could mean an additional roughly $5M annually; the budget also assumes a retroactive Medi-Cal supplemental reimbursement of about $6M (covering January 2010 to present) and roughly $3M/year ongoing from the supplemental program.
Supervisors pressed for details: how quickly the department could ramp to the 80%+ transport threshold required by the closed system; the net costs of hiring EMTs and firefighters versus expected revenue; and a clear staffing plan for reopened or new stations. Chief Hayes-White explained that the department is staffing Engine 35 (at Pier 22 1/2) using overtime starting July 1 and plans to transition those hours to recruits once the new academy graduates, while longer-term station plans (e.g., Mission Bay Public Safety Building) are tied to capital bond timelines.
Members also asked about water supply for large post-earthquake conflagrations and the Auxiliary Water Supply System (AWSS), which does not reach far-west neighborhoods. The chief said the department currently relies on multiple redundancies (cisterns, drafting from park lakes, hose tenders) and continues to pursue funding for a more expansive portable water-supply system but has not yet secured major grants.
Action: Committee continued detailed budget review and accepted the Fire Departments presentation; members asked for follow-up materials on EMS staffing, recruitment timelines, overtime reduction plans and the portable water-supply strategy.
What happens next: The Department will refine year-two budget plans with the Mayors Office and provide additional staffing and cost-benefit detail on EMS ramp-up and station staffing in follow-up budget committee appearances.
