Emergency Services proposes phased raises funded by EMS billing as chiefs warn of vacancies and overtime

Emergency Services leadership told the Northumberland County Board of Supervisors that vacancies are driving mandatory overtime and that the department proposes a phased pay increase funded largely from EMS billing revenue.

The department reported five current vacancies and said pay levels average about 15.4% lower than neighboring Northern Neck jurisdictions across EMT and paramedic bands. To address retention and overtime, the department proposed funding a 10% increase over five years using EMS billing revenue, with a 3% increase this year followed by smaller increments in subsequent years. The chief provided projected costs: $90,596.91 for fiscal year 2027 and escalating figures in later years, and presented projected EMS-billing account balances under the plan.

The chief said the department currently uses EMS billing (approximately $20,000/month in recent receipts) and a planning‑district billing arrangement that handles insurance collections and writes off county-resident bills under an existing waiver policy. "If they're a county resident and you provide your ID more or less the bill just gets wiped clean," the presenter said, describing the waiver process and collection mechanics.

Budget requests included increases to part-time and overtime lines, a proposed $4,000 uniform allowance to aid retention, tuition funding to send staff to paramedic school and a request to separate holiday pay from overtime accounting. Board members requested an email breakdown of EMS-billing receipts and collections; no final funding decision was made at the work session.