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Residents and EMS urge council to put dedicated ambulance funding to voters; council asks for a costed plan
Summary
A long public-comment session and council debate centered on proposals to redirect a share of the parish 1% fire sales tax to create dedicated EMS funding; speakers urged putting a measure on the ballot but council asked for a detailed plan (units, staffing, costs) before finalizing a percentage.
Plaquemines residents, EMS personnel and council members spent more than an hour on June 11 urging the council to secure a dedicated revenue stream for ambulance services.
Shannon Larus, the parish EMS manager, described funding and staffing constraints and said she had “not [had] a seat at that table” when budget decisions were made. "I do not have a seat at that table. I do not have a voice," Larus said, arguing that predictable, dedicated funding was necessary to hire and retain paramedics and to support in‑house training.
Paramedics and EMTs—speakers included Josie Arnold, who identified herself as an EMS employee—said the parish lacks enough ambulances and staffing on the east bank, which lengthens response times. "Under no circumstances will I stay or 99% of this department stay if we go that route," Arnold said when describing the consequences of organizational changes she feared could leave EMS subordinate to fire operations.
Public commenters pressed council members to put a rededication or split of the existing 1% fire sales tax on the ballot so voters could decide whether a portion should be dedicated to EMS. Proposals mentioned during public comment ranged from 25% of the fire tax to a 50/50 split; multiple speakers urged 25%–30% as a compromise. Fire representatives and volunteers warned that an immediate 50% cut would strain fire operations and asked for a plan that would keep fire services viable while funding EMS.
Council members responded that they support putting a measure before voters but want a costed plan first. "If you come to us and say, ‘Here’s what it’s going to cost,’ finance can run the numbers," said Council Member Schultz; he said he would offer an amendment at the next meeting to place a 25% proposal on the ballot if a formal plan were submitted.
Councilors and administration staff requested that EMS and fire leadership jointly produce a plan specifying: number of additional ambulances and crews needed, recruitment and training timelines, annual operating costs, potential offset revenue (Medicare/Medicaid/insurance collections) and the expected impact on fire department budgets. Several members said they would support taking a plan to voters rather than making a unilateral budget transfer.
No final vote on a ballot measure occurred at the June 11 meeting; councilors asked for more granular financial data and operational plans to return before any decision.
