Pulaski County officials discuss defunding EMS in exchange for private ambulance providers

Pulaski County EMS is potentially facing drastic cuts after officials made a motion to defund the county's emergency medical services for a private ambulance provider. 

The decision, which would save the county approximately $250,000 was put on the table by Pulaski County Council members during a 2027 budget meeting on August 24. Prior to the hearing the proposal had never been discussed during an open public meeting, causing concern for both community members and employees. 

The 2026 budget for the county EMS is $1.4 million. Pulaski County EMS currently employs roughly 12 full-time and 16 part-time staff members operating two advanced life support (ALS) units. 

"The current proposal to privatize our county-owned ambulance service threatens not only the livelihoods of those who serve but also the quality and accessibility of emergency medical services that our community relies upon. The county-owned service has been a cornerstone of public safety, staffed by local professionals who understand the unique needs of our area and are committed to putting the health of residents above profit," Pulaski County resident Sherry Fagner said in an online page made to petition the motion. "With the pressure of privatization looming, we face a crucial decision: to stand by our public servants and ensure our EMS remains a fully functional, community-controlled, equitable system that maintains our safety standards and our values or to allow it to be overtaken by private interests."

The petition at https://c.org/4BqTdZXdYF has since gained local attention and collected nearly 330 signatures since it was created by Fagner on August 29. 

Council members were reluctant to speak in length about whether they were in favor or against the motion during the August meeting, except Council member AJ Gutwein, who stood as the lone official who seemed concerned about the proposal. Gutwein feared that while the effects of a move may not be felt immediately, services would likely decline at some point and be hard to bring back once eliminated. It was noted Gutwein is a current local volunteer fire fighter, who's crew partners with Pulaski County EMS during emergencies. 

In a Facebook post on September 3, Pulaski County EMS posted that 2026 has shown a steady increase in Pulaski County EMS calls for service, with crews are averaging around 5.49 calls daily. They also noted an increase of calls from 2024 to 2025 that showed a jump from 1,625 to 1,813 calls, carrying an average of around 4.9 calls per day in the previous year. 

Daily calls range from 911 calls for service to interfacility transports up to 100 miles from our service area. 

The Pulaski County Commissioners are set to meet on September 8, with plans to accept or reject a private contract for ambulance service.