Austin-Travis County EMS officials are not enamored with the proposed fiscal year 2022 budget.
Under the $4.5 billion proposed budget that was recently revealed, there’s $105 million earmarked for EMS services, but KVUE reports that none of that will go to Austin-County EMS.
“I was actually highly disappointed in what we saw for EMS,” Austin EMS Association President Selena Xie told KVUE. “We have added one new ambulance, which has been agreed to by ordinance a few years ago, and so we actually didn’t add any new resources in this budget.”
Austin-Travis County EMS plans to add another 35 medics at the end of this month, with the proposed budget calling for funding for 661 medics total, and the union says the city needs 683 medics to provide adequate service, an Austin Monitor article said.
On August 11, the Austin City Council will vote on adopting the final budget. There will be community feedback on the budget on July 22 and 29, before the final vote.
“I am very supportive of increasing our resources for EMS and look forward to that budget conversation about what are the most appropriate resources,” District 9 Council member Kathie Tovo told KVUE.
Tovo has previously sent words of support to Austin-Travis County EMS, saying how crucial they are to keeping the community safe.
“Thank you for the work that you do each and every day and especially in such really challenging times, such difficult circumstances, thank you,” Tovo said in a Facebook video message. “I appreciate the care and compassion that you bring to your work, your dedication in serving your community and I know that every patient you interact with on every medical call benefits from that expertise and understands and appreciates your dedication to your job. So please know that your Austin City Council stands alongside supporting you.”
