Pulaski County EMS Director Natasha Daugherty presented a request to the Pulaski County Council Monday night to increase wages for EMTs, paramedics and the director.
She started out by stating that current conditions may require the shutdown of an ambulance, and she wants to avoid that outcome. She said the EMS department is currently down three EMTs and she would like to see a more competitive wage to attract EMTs and paramedics to service the community, and to retain the current staff. She said the current wages are a big issue when compared to surrounding areas.
“The wages that I’m proposing – they won’t fix our current wage shortage, however they can start to help to develop a better analysis going forward,” said Daugherty.
The current wages for full-time staff are $13.08 for an EMT, $14.87 for an advanced EMT, and $19.03 for a paramedic. The director currently makes $23.79 an hour. EMS staff works 24 hour shifts with two days off which is within national standards.
She is proposing an increase to $15.60 for an EMT wage, $16.90 for an advanced EMT, and $20.80 for a paramedic. The director pay would increase to about $26.00 an hour.
The proposed wages are still lower than surrounding communities.
The council members believe that wages will not solve the issue and thought maybe there could be some changes within the department, perhaps with the schedule, or other ideas outside of the box, and Daugherty said there are some changes being researched for the new year. Council President Ken Boswell noted that EMS recently received two independent salary increases outside of the rest of the county employees. Even so, Daugherty stressed that some staff members continue to struggle to make ends meet and the current wages do not justify a livable wage.
Councilman Jerry Locke commented that if the council decides to increase the wages, other agencies will increase their wages and the county will continue to be behind when its comes to wages.
Ultimately, the council decided to take the request under advisement to review the proposal and meet with Daugherty to discuss it at the beginning of the year.
Later in the meeting, several members of the public spoke in support the EMS Department and support the increase in wages. After hearing changes to the matrix to other departments and hearing part-time wages, they believe the council should make the changes.
