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Highlander Fire Protection District warns of EMS funding gap after 2026 contract expiration
Summary
Highlander Fire presented EMS call-volume data and existing equipment debt; board members pressed district leaders on how EMS will be funded after the county contract ends in 2026. Public comment urged fiscal restraint and efficiency.
Highlander Fire Protection District leaders presented call-volume data and financial details while asking the county for clarity about EMS funding after the district's county contract expires in 2026. Board President Matt Smith outlined outstanding debt tied to vehicles and stations, citing remaining balances of $659,000 on a Lafayette bond, $369,000 on a Greenville engine and $870,000 on a new Lafayette engine.
Captain Keith Young and other Highlander representatives described current operations and said that, at present, the district relies on county funding for EMS. Public commenter Billy Stewart urged the commissioners to seek efficient, low-cost EMS delivery, saying taxpayers are already strained by rising property taxes and inflation. Commissioners asked for more specifics about staffing, monthly reports called for in the existing agreement, and how the district plans to meet its stated goals without new funding; Highlander leaders said future funding sources beyond the county were "not specified" during the meeting.
