Travis County to evaluate EMS services outside city limits

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Travis County is planning to look at how it provides and funds emergency medical services in areas outside city limits.

On Tuesday, Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a midyear budget adjustment of $400,000 for a consultant to study funding for emergency medical responses in the county. The money is earmarked and might not cost the full amount. 

Chuck Brotherton, the county executive for emergency services, said the county will look for a consultant to help guide the commissioners in decision-making to sustain high-quality emergency medical services in Travis County, outside the City of Austin and Pflugerville. 

Brotherton added this follows rapid growth, cost increases and changes in service demand. These factors are challenging how the county can give equitable, effective, high-quality emergency medical services in the county outside city limits. 

The last EMS delivery study was in 2011 and did not look at alternative funding options, Brotherton said.

Commissioner Brigid Shea said there are a lot of changes underway, and a deeper, more comprehensive look from a consultant is essential. 

“I think it makes a great deal of sense, and it would help us be able to manage this in a more complete way than reacting to issues as they come to us,” Shea said.

Commissioner Ann Howard said it’s “imperative” that the study starts sooner rather than later in advance of next year’s budget and legislative session. She also said smaller cities in western Travis County have questions about how large their population should be before they independently contract ambulances.

“There’s just a lot of questions, and we need help,” Howard said.

Next, the county will solicit a contractor and a proposed contract will be brought to the commissioners court for approval, according to agenda documents. The entire process should take nine to 12 months in total.

Rising EMS costs

While EMS response is generally excellent, Brotherton said the cost of emergency medical services increases about 3.5% or more each year. However, there was an 11% increase between fiscal year 2023 and fiscal year 2024.

In total, emergency medical services are estimated to cost Travis County about $33 million in fiscal year 2025.

The county estimates it will have a roughly $18.3 million interlocal agreement with the City of Austin for EMS in the next fiscal budget. There will also be an estimated $868,000 agreement with Emergency Services District 2 for services in the extraterritorial jurisdictions of Round Rock, Pflugerville and Hutto. 

The cost to operate STAR Flight is also estimated to cost $14 million in the next fiscal year, but this is offset by revenue, Brotherton said.