Pinellas County Should Track Fire and EMS Costs to Set Benchmarks, Control Costs, and Evaluate Alternative Service Delivery Models
Report 10-25, February 2010
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Report Summary
- Pinellas County residents receive fire protection and emergency medical services through a complex system requiring coordination among 18 local governments. While this system provides a uniform emergency response system, it lacks effective mechanisms to plan service levels and track system-wide costs, which makes it difficult to identify more cost-effective service delivery models.
- The county would benefit from establishing a broad-based planning entity to oversee a more coordinated approach to planning for fire protection and emergency medical services. Such an entity could track costs and help plan for more efficient and cost-effective services by taking into account what resources exist beyond a single municipality's border and by adopting a countywide view of service delivery. To achieve these goals, we recommend that the Legislature modify Chs. 73-600 and 80-585, Laws of Florida, to establish a comprehensive countywide planning system for fire and emergency medical services and a mechanism for reporting and tracking related financial information.
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Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021,
or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021,
or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
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