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EMS director warns funding and fleet gaps limit ability to add raises
Summary
The EMS/paramedic chief asked the county to consider moving FICA and other costs to lit/public-safety funds to free money for staff raises, and outlined urgent truck-replacement needs that could require a major capital appropriation.
Nick, speaking for the county's EMS/paramedic operation, described a program that is largely self-funded through tuition and billing but is experiencing reduced income this year because of billing and transfer-handling changes with the local hospital. He said he did not include raises in his 2027 budget because, without FICA funding from a public-safety fund, he could not safely sustain a 10% across-the-board increase.
On capital, Nick outlined an urgent truck-replacement cycle: several vehicles have high mileage and loan maturities are approaching, creating a potential $390,000 capital need to replace multiple trucks. He suggested strategies (trade-ins, demo builds, phased purchase or an additional appropriation) and asked commissioners to consider moving FICA or other public-safety costs to the lit fund to free operating dollars. "I did not put in any raises in there this year," he said, explaining the trade-offs between raises and maintaining adequate reserves to operate the service.
