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EMS leaders urge hiring, not shift change, to rein in overtime; commissioners ask for budget review
Summary
EMS leadership recommended keeping the current 24‑on/72‑off schedule, arguing it reduces overtime and allows recovery, and requested approval to fill four vacancies to cut overtime; commissioners questioned historic overtime totals and asked for budget analysis before additional hires or scheduling changes.
Emergency Medical Services leadership told the board it had reviewed an alternate 12‑hour (4 on/4 off) shift and concluded the county should keep the current 24‑on/72‑off schedule and hire additional staff rather than switch schedules.
"My biggest problem that I see is with somebody calling out sick with the current schedule we got," the EMS director said, describing how coverage gaps translate into overtime. The director reported the service is funded for 42 positions but currently has seven combined vacancies and leaves the system short when staff are out. The EMS director advised the board: "I don't see the benefit in going 4 on, 4 off and 12 hour shifts... 24/72 is the best option in the 911 field."
Commissioners questioned whether adding four positions would materially reduce overtime and asked staff to revisit budget assumptions; one commissioner noted overtime runs well above earlier budgeted levels and asked how the county previously reduced overtime. County staff said vacancies and an artificially reduced overtime budget contributed to the current variance and recommended filling open positions where fiscally feasible.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 2326; topfinish SEG 2460
