Department presenter says adding an ambulance crew member reduced overtime and generated revenue in six-month trial

Unidentified Speaker, a department representative, told attendees that a six-month trial using seven-member ambulance shifts produced measurable financial and operational benefits and urged adding one full-time member to sustain those gains.

The presenter said the trial produced an "estimated additional revenue" of $75,000 based on 50 mutual-aid calls the department received during the six-month window and called the trial "a huge savings to our department." The speaker added that overtime savings extrapolated to a year would be approximately $138,100 and that the department calculated a salary cost of $79,357 (based on a mid-range step 1), which led to a reported total savings figure of $126,443 associated with adding one member.

The presentation included five-year call-volume data the presenter said showed steady growth: "from FY '21 to FY '25" and a year-to-date increase of roughly 39–40% in FY26. The presenter noted the department ran 1,348 calls in the six-month period, "gave 182 mutual aid calls" to other jurisdictions and "received 50 from out of town," the latter underpinning the $75,000 revenue estimate. The $75,000 figure was described as based on Basic Life Support (BLS) reimbursements and as conservative ("on the low side").

Staffing patterns and overlap were central to the argument. The speaker said the department experienced 212 instances of simultaneous calls (two overlapping calls) in the six months, and walked through shift coverage and hours used across A–D shifts to show how a consistent seven-member shift reduces uncovered hours and the need for overtime. "Consistently at a 7 man shift if 1 person took a shift off they would drop to a 6 man shift," the presenter said, adding that a persistent seven-member model reduces those drop-downs.

On budget trends, the presenter showed overtime rising from FY22 through a projected FY27 and argued that adding one member would lower overtime over time, producing savings the presentation described as "almost $120,000." The speaker also listed several demand drivers the department expects to increase call volume, including: "The World Cup is coming in 2026," the Heather Hill development, a multi-building development in North Attleborough referenced in the transcript as "01/1952," and a potential expansion at Plain Ridge Park Casino.

The presenter closed by emphasizing safety: "this isn't just about overtime savings ... this is safety for all of our members." The transcript includes no recorded motion or vote on the staffing request and does not show a formal decision; the material presented is a request and supporting data for consideration.

Notes on sourcing and estimates: all dollar figures and counts are those provided by the presenter in the transcript and are described there as estimates or conservative figures; the presentation identified some values as mid-range or low-side assumptions. The transcript does not include external verification of billing reimbursements, payroll calculations or confirmation of the listed developments' timelines.