Quick Facts
As of July 1, 2006

Total employees 112
Administrative 20 17.9%
Field 92 82.1%
Reserve (volunteer) 9

Administrative employees (20)
Female 11 55.0%
Male 9 45.0%

Field employees (92)
Supervisory 12 13.0%
Non-supervisory 80 87.0%

Female 25 27.2%
Male 67 72.8%

Paramedic 71 77.2%
EMT 21 22.8%

Employment Facts
Field crewmembers work 48 hours per week. Many crewmembers prefer the 24-0-24 shifts (24 hours on, 24 hours off, 24 hours on), with the balance working 24-12-12 and 12-12-24 shifts. Currently, eight employed EMT's and one volunteer Reserve are attending paramedic schools.

Field employees are hourly, non-exempt, according to state and federal labor statutes. New Paramedics (EMT-Ps) earn a starting hourly rate of $12.82 plus 2% per year of experience after successful completion of a six-month probationary period to a maximum of ten years experience. Advanced EMT's earn $9.40 per hour to start, and the Basic EMT's earn $7.83 per hour to start.

Our Paramedics and EMT's respond to 9-1-1 emergency medical calls in a 1,060-square-mile area, using 11 mobile intensive care units (MICUs) and 3 sport utility vehicles (SUVs).

Budget Facts
The Ada County Paramedics budget for FY2006 is $9,193,808. A property-based ambulance tax district generates approximately $2,925,725, or 32%, of the budget. Fees for service generate the balance of our revenue.

The Ada County Ambulance District was formed on March 25, 1975, at a tax levy rate of 1.25980 mils (or .00012598 on every property value dollar after subtracting 75,000). This levy rate has remained at roughly this level since the ambulance district was formed. At that time, approximately 141,100 people lived in Ada County, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. What cost $1 in 1975 cost $3.62 in 2005.

In 2005, approximately 361,484 people lived in Ada County according to COMPASS, which exceeds the U.S. Census Bureau’s projected 2010 population of 325,150. According to an article in The Idaho Statesman on December 2, 2005, “the average sale price for a home in Ada County had climbed to $247,835 in October.” A family living in this average home pays $21.73 per year for emergency medical services. Alternatively, a family living in a $150,000 home spends $9.45 per year for EMS—and has paid the same rate since 1975.

Response Facts
In FY2005, Ada County EMS responded to 18,016 calls and documented 18,670 patients. Approximately 62% of these patients were transported to local emergency rooms.