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Supervisors back limited EMS staffing expansion, reject extra wage bump
Summary
After reviewing call volumes, the board agreed to unfreeze one medic position and pilot weekday 10-hour coverage rather than expansion to full 24/7 units; supervisors also voted to remove a proposed 1.5% wage increase for Emergency Services.
Emergency Services director Drew Beyer told the board that call volumes have risen since 2024 and presented multiple staffing models for rural coverage along key corridors. Beyer recommended a cautious approach: pilot 10-hour weekday shifts (8 a.m.'6 p.m. or 8'6 p.m.) rather than immediately creating multiple 24-hour crews.
Beyer said 2024 totaled roughly 1,181 EMS calls and that 2025 and early 2026 patterns show shifting daily and hourly peaks. He proposed reactivating one previously frozen medic and adding additional staff if the pilot proves effective. Board members expressed concern about costs and operational overlap with volunteer departments; Beyer said volunteer departments had told the board they still want county support but not necessarily full takeover of local response.
On compensation, the board removed a proposed additional 1.5% wage increase (on top of the board'approved move from 2% to 3%) for Emergency Services full- and part-time personnel; the motion to remove the 1.5% passed 5-0. The board also discussed converting fragmented part-time paramedic roles (many 0.05 FTE slots) to a standard 0.25 FTE for budgeting stability; staff will leave the received 0.25 change in place for now to avoid year-end shortfalls but may revisit the structure.
Votes and next steps: The board approved motions to unfreeze and preserve one medic position and to remove two of the additional FTE improvement requests, effectively pausing a broader 24/7 expansion while endorsing a smaller pilot. The budget director will adjust the general supplemental fund lines and return with updated costings and any required formal agreements for housing crews in partner municipalities.
