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Emergency services director urges action on EMS funding as supervisors debate levy and volunteer value
Summary
The county's emergency services director outlined safety audits, an active‑shooter reunification exercise and a proposal to consolidate ordinances recognizing fire and EMS, and he described volunteer staffing estimates that sparked board discussion about a potential levy and capital funds for EMS equipment.
Hyde, the county's emergency services director, briefed the board on safety audits, an upcoming large‑scale reunification exercise and proposals to organize fire/EMS ordinances. He also presented staff estimates about volunteer coverage and the potential cost to replace volunteer labor with paid staff.
Hyde said volunteers provide substantial value and presented illustrative calculations—"85 volunteers ... if we pay them what the average is in the salary study ... is $5,500,000"—to highlight the fiscal contribution volunteers make and to frame why funding decisions matter. Several supervisors pushed back on the arithmetic and noted that staffing needs and cost estimates depend on how many paid positions would replace volunteers.
Board discussion centered on whether to fund EMS through a dedicated levy, how a levy would interact with volunteer fire departments, and whether targeted paid positions could shore up ambulance staffing without eliminating volunteer capacity. Supervisors and Hyde discussed creating a capital fund (potentially from decal revenues) for truck and equipment purchases and noted that the recent levy did not fully close the EMS funding gap.
No final decision was taken on a new levy; the board agreed to continue the conversation during budget planning. Staff follow‑up: administration and emergency services to return with more precise cost estimates and options for capital funding.
