Commissioners warn EMS will need general‑fund support if overtime echo unit continues

The county’s EMS director reported monthly call data and response‑time averages and told the Committee of the Whole that an overtime‑heavy first‑response ("echo") model is straining the EMS budget. The director reported 251 transports for August and an overall county response time of "13 minutes 43 seconds," and described the echo unit staffing as costly because it relies on part‑time personnel and overtime.

A commissioner who sat through a budget review told the board: "If you continue that echo unit to function at the overtime rate that Steve's paying ... you will be supporting EMS out of the general fund by July 2026." Commissioners asked staff for cost comparisons of alternatives — for example a 12‑hour staffed transport shift that could capture billing revenue — and for detailed breakdowns of station‑level response times when a station has no ambulance assigned. Staff said they will prepare options for the P&A committee and return with scenarios for the 2026 budget process.

Board members also discussed how transfer volume and consolidation among regional hospital systems affect revenue and trip times for transfers; staff emphasized the difficulty of increasing 911 volume to raise revenue and the operational tradeoffs of adding staffed units versus continuing the echo coverage model.