News

Pittsburgh EMS Needs Infusion to Fix $1.3M Deficit

Bob Bauder

10/29/2014

Oct. 29--Pittsburgh Emergency Medical Services has a $1.3 million deficit because Mayor Bill Peduto's office failed to anticipate retroactive raises in a contract with union paramedics, city Controller Michael Lamb said Wednesday.

Lamb, who released an audit of EMS, said it would run out of cash by mid-November and would require a fund transfer from another area of the budget to pay paramedics.

"The administration budgeted for what the (EMS) expenditures were going to be this year," Lamb said. "They didn't take into account ... back pay."

The administration could not be immediately reached for comment.

Local 1 of the Fraternal Association of Professional Paramedics, which had been working without a contract, reached a three-year agreement with the city in May that provided raises of 2 percent for 2012 and 2013 and 2.5 percent this year.

The administration reported at the time that raises and back pay would cost the city about $1.1 million.

Lamb said auditors who reviewed EMS operations in 2012 and 2013 found the department call volume has increased and that paramedic response times lagged behind National Fire Protection Association standards.