By Bill Carey
EMS1
HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. — At a tense meeting in the Hopkinsville Fire Department conference room, the Hopkinsville-Christian County Ambulance Board set a four-month deadline to decide on EMS wage cuts amid heated debates.
Fire Chief Steve Futrell highlighted the fire department’s decreasing revenues and the potential $4,000 wage cuts that are deepening divisions within the board, WHOP reported.
Despite being one of the busiest in the state and relying solely on generated funds, rising costs and previous billing issues have hampered profitability. Futrell mentioned the recent switch to a new billing company, 911 Billing Services, to sustain operations.
Board Chair Darrel Gustafson noted that in 2022, 60% of the fire department’s revenue covered salaries, which has now surged to 97%. He emphasized that high salary costs are depleting funds, necessitating changes unless additional funding is secured.
He proposed a wage reduction of about $20 per EMS paycheck, though some board members disputed this figure, preferring pay cuts to job losses. In contrast, board member Travis Martin opposed salary cuts, suggesting that revenue should increase once the new billing company, 911 Billing, processes backlogged claims.
Following further debate, the ambulance board decided to delay their decision on EMS wages for four months, allowing 911 Billing time to process claims and increase revenue. Gustafson was the sole dissenting vote against postponing the decision.
After the meeting, Hopkinsville Mayor J.R. Knight issued a press release expressing his full support for the EMS team and his commitment to collaborate with the ambulance board, county officials and community representatives to develop a financially responsible solution that ensures EMS has the necessary resources to continue their critical work.