County Judge Confirms MWFD Will Receive Funds
When Emergency Services District #1 announced in September that they would be ending their contract with MW Fire and EMS to take calls in the areas just outside the City limits, many wondered if the County would still provide the financial support to MWFD that the County Commissioner’s agreed upon during their 2023-24 budget talks.
The City made it known to the County last summer that their cost to service those extended areas outside the city (known as the ESJ) was not covering their expenses and asked the County for help as they battled understaffed, underpaid employees, as well as an an increase in call volume.
The County committed $144k to the MWFD in their 2024 budget to help relieve the City while a long term solution was researched.
Surprisingly to City officials, a solution was announced by ESD1 in late September to relieve the MWFD & EMS of that extra burden of covering the ESJ by ending their contract with the City, instead hiring another Sacred Cross ambulance to service the area.
The question has remained whether the County still intended to fund the City the $144k to help the MWFD which was approved by Commissioners for the 2023-24 budget.
An interlocal agreement has bounced back and forth between the County and the City to finalize the details, and according to Judge Shane Long, the item will be on the County Commissioner’s Meeting Agenda on October 23rd.
“I can confirm that the funds we have committed to help the fire department will be honored,” said Judge Long.
Palo Pinto County Judge Shane Long
Here is a a link to read more more about ESD1 terminating their contract for the ESJ.
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