The organization covers approximately 230 square miles in Bexar, Guadalupe and Comal counties, estimating 15,565 calls for service in the 2024-25 fiscal year, Director Jason Mabbitt said. But calls for service have increased 67.61% in the past decade, while medical transports have jumped 61.88% in the same time period.
This summer, Schertz EMS has been meeting with its partner cities across the area, amending interlocal agreements to provide more funding for the unit. Mabbitt said increased staff pay and rising equipment costs, among other reasons, are why EMS needs funding.
In June, Universal City council approved an agreement amendment providing an extra 20% to the budget in Fiscal Years 2025-26 and 26-27, followed by an additional 5% in FY 27-28, a total increase of contributions of $182,553. Cibolo City Council approved the same amendment in July, as previously reported by Community Impact, raising contributions through the contract by $338,958.
Keeping Schertz EMS services afloat is beneficial to Northeast San Antonio, including the city of Universal City, Fire Chief Todd Perna said.
"Collectively, we could probably break away from Schertz EMS, but we would have to have an ambulance, Live Oak would have to have an ambulance, Selma would have to have an ambulance and we all know that nobody wants to get into that business right now because of the initial costs," Perna said.
Schertz EMS covers the cities of Schertz, Cibolo, Live Oak, Universal City and Selma; while also contracting with Guadalupe County, Comal County’s Emergency Service District No.6, Joint Base San Antonio Randolph and the cities of Santa Clara and Marion.
Cities pay Schertz EMS per capita at a rate of $17.52, while Joint Base San Antonio Randolph pays the organization to keep an ambulance on site at all times.
Schertz EMTs and paramedics also receive 25% of call volume in Guadalupe County, helping to cover the county alongside Seguin Fire Department and EMS, San Marcos EMS, Wilson County Emergency Service District No.3 and Caldwell County Emergency Service District No.5.
How it happened
Mabbitt said he reached out to local fire chiefs and city staff earlier this year to ask for the amendment changes, with Schertz EMS projected to end FY 2024-25 with a negative cash balance of $794,917. The main expense increases were related to staffing, both in adding positions for 12-hour shifts and adding additional compensation.
EMS services for three ambulances have gradually been changing to 12-hour staffing, which requires six new positions to be added.
Additional compensation for staff came after a 2024 Schertz Classification and Compensation Study found that EMTs were paid 29.41% below local market value, and paramedics were paid 21.08% below value.
Schertz EMS invested $780,000 to address the compensation disparity, bringing salaries in line with similarly populated units.
Mabbitt said rising ambulance and equipment costs are the “new normal,” and several new pieces of state legislation added to the expenditure increases, necessitating revising agreements with cities two years into a five-year contract.
What’s next
Mabbitt said he will continue to present to city staff and councils through the remainder of the summer, including Live Oak, Selma and Schertz.
