During a recent government meeting, officials discussed the increasing service demands faced by South County Fire, highlighting the inadequacies of the existing contract established in 2017-2018. The fire department has reported significant increases in emergency medical services (EMS) calls, necessitating a reevaluation of funding and resource allocation.

Council members noted that the current contract does not adequately reflect the rising costs associated with delivering fire and EMS services. The department is seeking an additional $14 million to cover these increased service requirements, which they argue are already being met by other cities within the fire authority. This funding gap is attributed to various factors, including rising operational costs driven by inflation and staffing challenges exacerbated by workforce changes and mental health issues among firefighters.

The discussion also touched on the limitations of the EMS levy, which has not kept pace with inflation or the growing demand for services. Currently, the levy can only increase by 1% annually, which has resulted in a shortfall in funding for emergency services. Council members expressed the need for clearer communication with the community regarding these financial challenges and the implications of potential budget decisions.

As the city prepares for its upcoming budget discussions, officials emphasized the importance of addressing these funding issues to ensure adequate fire and emergency services for residents. The meeting underscored the urgency of finding sustainable solutions to meet the evolving needs of the community while maintaining effective emergency response capabilities.