News Articles and Editorial Opinions 

The following are news articles and editorial opinions on the Pinellas EMS study and issues surrounding it. This list does not include, nor could it, all of the articles written as a whole; however, these articles do inform the current discussion, and we are providing the links to you for your ease of reference.

 

Links to external news sites may not remain active indefinitely (not active=na).

 

Bay News 9:

• Cost of emergency services may be going up again in Pinellas

• Pinellas County has new EMS agreement (na)

• Pinellas leaders debate over EMS reform (na)

 

Clearwater Gazette:

• County struggles with EMS cost; study approved

• Lots of talk and strife but no EMS changes (na)

• City leaders say either EMS proposal likely to cost Clearwater taxpayers millions (na)

• Disarray reigns over EMS future and Sunstar role (na)

• Senator Latvala announces delegation meeting to discuss EMS issue (na)

• LETTERS—EMS Sunstar controversy (na)
  

 

EMS1:

 

• How will we fix a broken EMS?

 

Firehouse.com:

 

• Rift Develops Among FL Chiefs Over EMS Plans (na)
• FL Legislators: Firefighters Should Move Patients (na)
• FL Fire Chief Pushes for Dept. Based EMS (na)
  

 

FireRescue1:

• FL county EMS transport changes up in the air

 

Governing Magazine:

 

• Firefighters Feel the Squeeze of Shrinking Budgets
• 4 ways to Rethink Firefighting
  

 

Patch.com:

• Palm Harbor Fire Commission Candidate: Bob Shatanoff

• Ambulance Based Emergency Transport to Continue

• County Admin Bob LaSala Irks Both Sides of the EMS Issue
• 3 EMS Plans May Be Evaluated by Third Party
• Officials Set To Discuss Firefighter's EMS Plan

• Special City Council Meeting Set About EMS Changes

• Town Hall Meeting Tonight
• Officials Want More Time to Discuss Firefighter's EMS Plan

• Firefighter's EMS Plan Gaining Support

• Town Hall Meeting Set for Nov. 21

• Let the Local EMS Responders Do Their Job

• Firefighters Pushing for EMS Changes
• New County Budget: EMS Tax, Park Fees
  

 

Tampa Bay Times:

 

• County rejects Pinellas Park proposal for fire coverage in High Point

• Pinellas County Commission finds middle ground on tax increase for EMS service

• Pinellas County may seek another EMS tax increase

• Looking ahead to a total transformation of Pinellas' EMS system

• Pinellas EMS transport committee to meet
• State lawmaker may move to remove EMS from Pinellas County oversight

• Cheaper fire service may come with another price, some officials say

• Commission OK's contract with EMS consultant

• Pinellas commissioners agree to hire EMS consultant, but some criticize county administrator

• EDITORIAL-- Closer look at emergency services needed

• Jack Latvala lays down the law on EMS study

• Proposal to pay for EMS study widens already deep gulf

• Trim fat at EMS without paying consultant

• Pinellas County may seek another EMS tax increase

• Some Pinellas commissioners moving toward firefighter transport of emergency patients

• Ambulance transport plan committee to meet Wednesday

• 4 companies submit proposals to consult on Pinellas' ems

• EMS studies could spawn more questions, debate and hard decisions

• Projected budget shortfall could mean raised taxes, service cuts for Pinellas
  

• Fire tax rates expected to go up for some

• Pinellas EMS tax could rise again

• Expect to hear more about EMS fire transport

• EMS transport committee to meet

• Looking ahead to a total transformation of Pinellas' EMS system

• Former state Sen. Jim Sebesta to head EMS committee
  

• Pilot, schmilot, what does it cost?
  

• Sanford-Millican plan already a success?

• Pinellas County Commission kills EMS "subdistrict" proposal

• Sen. Jack Latvala schedules EMS committee meeting

• State Sen. Jack Latvala sets first meeting for EMS committee
  

• Kenneth City Mayor Teresa Zemaitis to Pinellas County Commission: Vote down "subdistrict" proposal
  

• EDITORIAL-- EMS goals: Efficiencies, trimmed costs

• EMS property taxes could widely vary under county proposal

• Sen. Jack Latvala: Comply with legislators' wishes on EMS committee

• Split EMS advisory group says Pinellas County should continue priority dispatch roll out
  

• The stage is set for a clash between St. Petersburg and Pinellas County over EMS

• EMS situation still murky

• EMS numbers frustrate both sides

• Pinellas legislators want audit of EMS proposals as LaSala steams ahead

• Pinellas County commissioners want to try something new with EMS

• St. Petersburg City Council holds off on EMS lawsuit, endorses firefighter transport

• St. Petersburg council: In EMS debate, the county's private words don't match their public actions

• EMS talks: We say negotiation, you say information
  

• In the EMS wars, the county takes a licking
  

• Mike Wallace resigns as head of Pinellas County Fire Chiefs Association
  

• LETTERS--Response saves lives

• State Sen. Jack Latvala schedules public hearing on EMS
  

• Fire chief ousted from EMS advisory group

• EMS, bus times and steak
• That's MoRRoni, not Moroni
• When funds for roads and parks are cut, nobody dies
  
• Fire paramedic, ambulance or both - how to decide
• Faster EMS? Two firefighters will share their plan in Lealman
• Fire chief heats up EMS debate
• EMS System is Overdue for Overhaul
• Avoiding Hard EMS choices

• Pinellas renews contract with ambulance company (na)

• St. Petersburg council chairman will recommend the city sue the county over EMS (na)
  

• EMS advisory board urges study of firefighter transport (na)

• Marathon emergency medical services budget talks go nowhere (na)
  

• EDITORIAL--St. Petersburg stands in way of needed EMS reform (na)
  
• Rift develops among Pinellas fire chiefs over EMS (na)
• St. Pete threatens to pull out of EMS if funding cuts okayed (na)

• Legislators' proposal would give Pinellas firefighters more control of EMS (na)

• Firefighters lock horns with LaSala, city managers over Pinellas' dual-responder EMS system (na)

• Pinellas firefighters say ambulance handoff system wastes time (na)

• Pinellas Park urges county to discuss medical transport with cities, fire departments (na)

• EMS tax may jump 46 percent (na)
  

• Fire taxes may rise 2 percent to 41 percent, or not at all, in parts of unincorporated Pinellas (na)

• St. Petersburg fire chief opposes EMS funding change proposal (na)

• County Administrator Bob LaSala proposes 46 percent tax hike to save EMS (na)

• Funding inequities a sore point for Pinellas, EMS advisory board (na)

• A Paramedic is a Paramedic, except when Pinellas EMS pie is sliced (na)
• Another reason why Pinellas EMS system needs overhaul (na)

• Consultant suggests changes in EMS subsidy (na)
• EMS funding distribution raises eyebrows (na)

 

Tampa Bay Newspaper:

• County renews Paramedics Plus contract

• EMS dominates county business

• Legislators put brakes on EMS changes

• Commissioners discuss new ideas for EMS

• 9/12 Patriots host forum on EMS

• LETTERS--Let the marketplace work

• Mayor says EMS debate is local issue

• EMS change illegal, fire chief says

• Local legislators jump into talks about EMS funding

• Firefighters respond to county

• County sends local EMS bill to Tallahassee

• Pinellas Park supports firefighter-based medical transport

• Cities consider local firefighters’ EMS proposal

• County opposed to firefighters’ plan

• Special act, lawsuit hinder EMS change

• Largo officials get earful on EMS woes
• Commissioners Tackle EMS Funding

• Firefighters want to transport patients to hospitals (na)

• St. Pete, Pinellas at odds over EMS funding (na)
• Pinellas County Commission seeks change in law on EMS funding (na)
• Firefighters Say Florida EMS System's too Slow (na)

• Hear about EMS funding proposal at Lealman Community Association

• EMS Funding Crisis (na)

• Emergency medical services council gives Pinellas County funding plan tepid support (na)

• Union sees savings for EMS by allowing firefighters to take patients to hospital (na)

• Pinellas EMS Advisory Council could give new funding plan its first endorsement today (na)
  
• Pinellas' administrator pays outside consultant to pitch EMS plan (na)

 

Tampa Tribune:

• Delay in Pinellas EMS protocol change meant to avoid legal battle

• Pinellas mulls making changes to its emergency medical system (na)

 

WMNF Radio:

• Pinellas firefighters want to transport patients & want Sunstar out

 

WFLA-TV:

• Pinellas County considers EMS plans (na)
  

 

WTSP-TV:

• Argument, confusion as Pinellas decides future of EMS

• Pay more for an ambulance in Pinellas?

• Pinellas EMS system on verge of financial crisis
• Conflict arises over cuts to Pinellas County emergency services
• County says change in EMS transport could cost taxpayers millions
  Mike Deeson

• Call 911, wait longer in Pinellas County?

• Pinellas firefighters are battling the county over EMS transport system
  

 

WTVT-TV:

• County extends EMS contract (na)

• Commission looks for EMS solution (na)

• Clock ticking for Pinellas EMS funding (na)