,

Montgomery Co. EMS Misses Goals, Proposes Tax Hike

**Rapid Growth Strains Montgomery County EMS; Tax Increase Proposed to Boost Critical Response Times**

**MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX** – Montgomery County’s emergency medical services, managed by the Montgomery County Hospital District (MCHD), are struggling to meet crucial ambulance response time goals, particularly in the booming eastern parts of the county, prompting a proposal for a significant tax rate increase. Officials attribute the escalating challenge to explosive population growth and increased call volumes.

MCHD aims to reach 90% of all emergency calls within 8 minutes and 59 seconds. However, in 2023, the district achieved this benchmark for only 67% of its most critical, life-threatening (Priority 1) emergencies. Response times for urgent, but not immediately life-threatening (Priority 2) calls fared slightly better at 79%. This represents a notable decline from 2017, when MCHD met its Priority 1 goal 81% of the time, highlighting a worsening trend in public safety.

The areas most acutely affected by these extended response times include rapidly developing communities such as Porter, New Caney, and other locales across East Montgomery County, where population density and call volumes have surged in recent years.

MCHD CEO Randy Johnson and EMS Chief James Campbell have consistently pointed to Montgomery County’s status as one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation as the primary driver behind the service’s current strain. The influx of new residents translates directly into a higher volume of emergency calls, often outpacing the current capacity of ambulances and paramedics. Compounding the issue are frequent hospital offload delays, which tie up ambulance units for extended periods, preventing them from being available for new calls.

To address these critical deficiencies and improve public safety outcomes, MCHD is proposing a substantial increase to its property tax rate. The district seeks to raise the rate from the current 6.33 cents per $100 valuation to 7.7 cents. For a homeowner with a property valued at $300,000, this increase would translate to an additional $41.10 annually, bringing their total MCHD tax bill to approximately $231 per year.

The additional revenue generated by the proposed tax increase is earmarked for a comprehensive expansion of EMS resources. MCHD plans to hire 48 new paramedics and EMTs, procure 12 additional ambulances, and add a new paramedic supervisor to oversee operations. Furthermore, the district intends to create two new medical director positions to enhance clinical oversight, expand mental health services, and bolster administrative support necessary for the enlarged operations.

Officials project that with these planned additions, MCHD will be able to achieve its 90th percentile response time goal for critical calls by 2026, marking a significant improvement in emergency service delivery across the county.

The proposed tax rate increase is not yet final. The MCHD board has scheduled several public hearings to gather community feedback and discuss the proposal. These hearings are set for Tuesday, July 16; Tuesday, August 6; and Tuesday, August 20. Following these public forums, the MCHD board is expected to hold a final vote on the proposed increase on Tuesday, August 27.

If approved, MCHD aims to have the new staff and ambulances operational and integrated into the county’s emergency response system by early 2025, providing much-needed relief to an overburdened system. Residents are encouraged to attend the public hearings to voice their opinions and learn more about the proposal. Further details and meeting times can typically be found on the Montgomery County Hospital District’s official website.

Media

Senior Editor
Share this article:

Comments

No comments yet. Leave a reply to start a conversation.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Space

By signing up, you agree to receive our newsletters and promotional content and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Categories

Recommended