Beginning Oct. 1, the city of San Marcos will expand its emergency services for residents beyond those provided by the San Marcos police and fire departments. A new city Emergency Medical Service, or EMS, will be available to community members.
What happened
The creation of a San Marcos EMS department comes after regional changes in emergency service delivery across Hays County, including local jurisdictions’ moves toward independent service structures, according to a city news release.
The city has received emergency services from San Marcos-Hays County EMS since 1983, according to the release.
“Transitioning to a city-operated EMS service will not disrupt patient care, medical oversight or clinical standards,” said Russell Wilde, city of San Marcos public safety communications specialist. “The same medical director and clinical operating guidelines, or COGs, will remain in place.”
The city recruited Jill Rosales to serve as the San Marcos EMS chief. She will lead operations and department hiring decisions. Rosales currently works as the CEO of San Marcos Hays County EMS.
The city’s draft budget for the new EMS department is approximately $9 million for the 2026-27 fiscal year, Wilde said.
The new department will implement a phased hiring process, prioritizing current San Marcos Hays County EMS personnel. This method is intended to maintain a continuity of care, according to the release.
Looking back
San Marcos conducted a feasibility study in 2025, in partnership with Matrix Consulting Group, that evaluated EMS service options, Assistant City Manager Lonzo Anderson said, including:
- Facility assessments
- Service demand analysis
- Peer city comparisons
- Evaluations of alternative EMS delivery models
The study recommended a third-service model, including the development of a city-run EMS department, to support long-term sustainability, quality of service and financial transparency, according to the release.
"Since August 2025, the city of San Marcos has been engaged in a comprehensive evaluation of emergency medical services delivery models in response to evolving regional EMS dynamics,” Anderson said.
The City Council directed staff to analyze the recommendation, according to the release, including:
- Hiring practice
- Transition practices
- Labor protection options
- Quality of care
- Implementation timeline
Individuals hired by the new department will be classified as municipal employees, governed by San Marcos policies, payment plans, and discretionary and grievance procedures.
