Legislative analysts: MEMSOF solvent through 2032, but MSPAC funding change could speed depletion
February 07, 2026 | Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee, Budget and Taxation Committee, SENATE, SENATE, Committees, Legislative, Maryland
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Department of Legislative Services analysts told the subcommittee on Feb. 6 that the Maryland Emergency Medical System Operations Fund (MEMSOF) is projected to remain solvent through fiscal 2032 under current forecasts, but that recent proposals to allow greater MEMSOF support for the Maryland State Police Aviation Command (MSPAC) merit close scrutiny.
DLS analyst Madeline Miller summarized the FY27 MEMSOF allowance and forecast: the FY27 allowance provides $112.9 million across MEMSOF recipients, including $59.3 million for the Maryland State Police Aviation Command, the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MEMS), the Senator William H. Amos Fire Rescue and Ambulance Fund and the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. DLS noted that $5.5 million of the MSPAC planned expenditure in FY27 is contingent on legislation (SB284/HB392) that would temporarily expand allowable uses of MEMSOF.
Under the DLS forecast, MEMSOF remains solvent through at least fiscal 2032 with an estimated closing balance of about $15 million in that year; DLS told the committee an alternate outcome — rejecting the BRFHA provision that temporarily expands allowable uses — would raise the projected FY2032 closing balance to about $33.7 million. DLS also cautioned that projections rely on revenue assumptions tied to motor vehicle registration behavior and that earlier general fund infusions (2022–24) were required to restore structural balance.
Witnesses representing the State EMS Board and MEMS urged caution before shifting MEMSOF resources. Bill Firona, filling in for the EMS board chair, asked that any additional MEMSOF support for MSPAC be contingent on verification of mission profiles and expenses and warned that accelerating transfers to MSPAC would speed fund depletion and could necessitate additional fee increases.
Major Michael Teguley Ferry, speaking for MSPAC, described the command’s mission profile — 24/7 operations from seven bases with rotor and fixed wing assets, nearly 2,900 missions in 2025 and roughly 2,000 medevacs — and said MSPAC’s operations are largely medically oriented. MSPAC requested continued FY27 funding and noted the potential $5.5 million offset in the BRFHA bill.
DLS asked EMS board and MSPAC representatives to comment on the feasibility of altering the current MEMSOF/General Fund split and to provide verification of mission profiles and expenses if further shifts were proposed. No final committee vote occurred during the hearing.
DLS analyst Madeline Miller summarized the FY27 MEMSOF allowance and forecast: the FY27 allowance provides $112.9 million across MEMSOF recipients, including $59.3 million for the Maryland State Police Aviation Command, the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MEMS), the Senator William H. Amos Fire Rescue and Ambulance Fund and the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. DLS noted that $5.5 million of the MSPAC planned expenditure in FY27 is contingent on legislation (SB284/HB392) that would temporarily expand allowable uses of MEMSOF.
Under the DLS forecast, MEMSOF remains solvent through at least fiscal 2032 with an estimated closing balance of about $15 million in that year; DLS told the committee an alternate outcome — rejecting the BRFHA provision that temporarily expands allowable uses — would raise the projected FY2032 closing balance to about $33.7 million. DLS also cautioned that projections rely on revenue assumptions tied to motor vehicle registration behavior and that earlier general fund infusions (2022–24) were required to restore structural balance.
Witnesses representing the State EMS Board and MEMS urged caution before shifting MEMSOF resources. Bill Firona, filling in for the EMS board chair, asked that any additional MEMSOF support for MSPAC be contingent on verification of mission profiles and expenses and warned that accelerating transfers to MSPAC would speed fund depletion and could necessitate additional fee increases.
Major Michael Teguley Ferry, speaking for MSPAC, described the command’s mission profile — 24/7 operations from seven bases with rotor and fixed wing assets, nearly 2,900 missions in 2025 and roughly 2,000 medevacs — and said MSPAC’s operations are largely medically oriented. MSPAC requested continued FY27 funding and noted the potential $5.5 million offset in the BRFHA bill.
DLS asked EMS board and MSPAC representatives to comment on the feasibility of altering the current MEMSOF/General Fund split and to provide verification of mission profiles and expenses if further shifts were proposed. No final committee vote occurred during the hearing.
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