Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Emergency services asks for $2.46M in ECCs, cites staffing shortages and ambulance replacement need
Summary
Emergency services requested $2,461,503 for core system replacement, radios and equipment; staff reported significant EMS vacancies (~27), planned new hires, and an ambulance replacement quoted at about $439,650.
Emergency services staff told St. Mary's County commissioners they are seeking $2,461,503 in ECC requests largely to replace core 911/EMS hardware and software, upgrade cybersecurity and purchase radios and equipment for EMS and volunteer partners.
Director Jen Uts said the largest portion of the request is a core replacement (software, hardware and cyber upkeep) and that the request also includes funds to finish replacement of EMS portable radios and to supply volunteer fire and rescue services with additional radios and pagers. Uts told commissioners that the core replacement is a non‑recurring expense with a long replacement cycle (staff cited a 10–15 year lifecycle in the discussion) and noted portions of the request could be considered for fund balance rather than operating allocations.
Staff reported approximately 27 vacancies countywide in emergency services functions, with current hiring under way including four full‑time EMTs and multiple hourly EMTs/paramedics starting in the near term. Uts described operational tradeoffs between adding personnel and increasing pay, and said the county will likely need to explore alternate recruitment models used elsewhere, including hiring candidates with no prior EMS experience and training them locally.
On vehicles, staff asked to replace ambulance unit 189 (a 2014 model with ~190,000 miles) and proposed making 189 the primary unit out of Charlotte Hall while moving the newer 2021 unit 188 into reserve status. Uts provided a fully‑equipped ambulance cost quote in the transcript of about $439,650 and said the county may be able to lower that price by buying a demo unit if appropriate. Commissioners discussed funding the purchase from fund balance versus financing and asked staff to return with options.
A late request from a volunteer rescue squad seeking to expand coverage to 24‑hour operations at Valley Lee was noted; staff said that request would require an appeal and additional consideration. Uts also said some ECC items (for animal control and other smaller capital needs) had been found in existing budgets and would not need ECC funding.
No formal motion or vote occurred; staff will return with detailed financing options and prioritized ECC lists.
