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

 

Clearwater Gazette:

• County struggles with EMS cost; study approved

 

EMS1:

 

• How will we fix a broken EMS?
  

 

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
  

 

Tampa Bay Times:

 

• Three Candidates Three EMS Plans for Pinellas
• St. Petersburg EMS contract deal reached, but others remain
• EMS agreement better than nothing, but more work needed
• St. Petersburg Council votes to sign EMS contract
• Three year EMS deal goes to St. Petersburg City Council
• St. Petersburg Council ready to vote on EMS agreement with Pinellas
• Safe Harbor is a prime user of Pinellas EMS
• St. Petersburg Mayor have tenatative agreement on EMS funding
• Pinellas may take EMS Cuts Off the Table
• Pinellas County EMS proposal roundly ignored in budget requests
• Pinellas shifts stance on EMS
• Pinellas Park to fight county's EMS plan
• Largo commission ready to vote on Pinellas EMS plan
• Charge of bad data in EMS feud
• County open to deal on EMS plan
• Opponents of EMS plan may team up

• Largo City votes to bargain over EMS cuts

• Cut costs improve efficiency
• EMS flier fans the flames in Lealman
• Largo is ready to fight Pinellas to adequately fund EMS
• Pinellas fire chiefs say plan will reduce EMS services
  
• Editorial: Baby steps to EMS efficiency  
• New plan to trim EMS funding in Pinellas County

• County opts for small EMS change

• Four Pinellas fire districts form council
• 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

 

Tampa Bay Newspaper:

• Largo approves EMS funding agreement
• Largo Hosts Talks on County EMS Funding
• Pinellas Park challenging EMS funding

• Largo votes to fight county on EMS funding

• Fire commissioners undecided on EMS funding
• County moving forward with EMS changes
• 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

 

Tampa Tribune:

• St. Pete, Pinellas resolve EMS funding disputer

• Cutting Medics Will Impact People in Fla. County

• Mayor Kriseman won't fight Pinellas EMS cuts

• Pinellas commission calls for 911 cuts
• Mayor Kriseman won't fight Pinellas EMS cuts
• Pinellas considers cutting EMS funding by $2.3M

• Plan would save $6.3M on Pinellas EMS costs

• Four Pinellas County fire districts form council
• Delay in Pinellas EMS protocol change meant to avoid legal battle

 

WMNF Radio:

• Pinellas firefighters want to transport patients & want Sunstar out

 

WTSP-TV:

• Planned EMS cuts to proceed despite administrator firing

• 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
• Proposed EMS cuts in Pinellas mean increased response time

 

WTVT-TV:

• Battle over Pinells EMS funding comes to a close

 

Other:

• Florida City Officials Will Not Fight Proposed EMS Cuts
• Pinellas EMS funding cut approval appears likely