Certified EMS pay raises as care for people who use drugs

The FY2025 report certifies a program named First Responders at 136,857.15 expended. It gives the primary category as Wraparound and Connected Care Supports and the target population as Individuals who Use Drugs. It reports 74 participants served. The same program block states the problem as Staffing shortages due to inability to pay at a competitive rate. It says the budget can only handle 18 dollars an hour for part-time EMTs and that the grant pays the additional 9 dollars an hour, with each person's wage allocation set up upon hire. The books match the certified figure to the cent. Account G-02-41-779-002 paid 31 weekly payroll charges from 11/27/2024 to 06/26/2025, a total of 122,372.15. A journal of 12/26/2024 charged 14,485.00 to account G-02-41-779-001. The payroll register lists every allocation under Home Dept EMS. The worksheet behind the journal prices each hour at 27.00 less a normal hourly rate of 19.00, and each overtime hour at 40.50 less 28.50, which is 8.00 and 12.00, not the 9.00 the report states. Exhibit E Category I, First Responders, adds two uses to the first-responder items in sections C, D and H: education on fentanyl precautions and wellness support for first responders. No listed use in C, D, H or I names EMT pay. The charge follows hours worked, not overdose calls, and no overdose program is documented.