After public safety concerns voiced by residents and reports of staff shortages resulting in the temporary closure of at least one Emergency Medical Services facility, Nash County leaders are hopeful that help is on the way.
With the new fiscal year's budget, which benefited from a revaluation that saw taxable property values increase, some of the additional revenue has already been put to good use for recruitment and retention efforts in the county's EMS department.
With the anticipated increase in what the county will bring in from property taxes in the 2024-25 fiscal year, pay increases for all three EMS classifications were included in current budget that went into effect July 1.
For more than a week, the opening page of the Nash County website has been a recruiting ad for EMS, featuring its current pay levels.
Jonathan Edwards, Nash County’s director of communication, said the new budget resulted in basic technicians receiving a 13.5 percent pay increase, advanced technicians receiving a 13.7 percent pay increase and paramedics receiving a 19.3 percent pay increase.
The projected annual salary for a basic technician is $51,380. Advanced emergency medical technicians can earn $53,657 annually, and the posted annual pay for paramedics is $65,230.
“The commissioners have invested an additional $3.4 million in salary and benefits for public safety employees, emergency services and the sheriff's office in this year's budget," Edwards said. "Employees will receive their new amount in this month's paycheck.”
Edwards said the county is early in its recruitment process, but in the past week, a number of applications have been submitted, interviews have been scheduled and several offers have been made to candidates.
"The new starting salaries are at or above the market rate for our surrounding counties, and we hope this will help Nash County be more competitive in our region,” Edwards added.
Edwards said there are approximately 20 vacancies that need to be filled at EMS currently, equaling the total number of vacancies the agency had last year at its most understaffed. The agency needs seven technicians with basic credentials, two with advanced certifications and 11 certified paramedics.
Nash County Commissioner Gwen Wilkins said that pay at Nash County EMS is now competitive with what other agencies are paying for skilled personnel. Wilkins said goal is now to find people who are dedicated to careers in emergency medicine.
"I believe the increases will be enough to staff and keep emergency medical services workers if those working in that career are committed and have chosen that field as a career," Wilkins said. "No matter how much we increase anyone's salary, if they are not dedicated to that job or have no intention of making it a career, no amount of salary will be sufficient."
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