idnontknow, I'll try to answer some of your questions. First both agencies provide excellent service, both fire and EMS, both with cross trained firefighters / EMT/ Paramedics. I might point out that this type of EMS delivery service, that of fire service based ambulances rather than a private, for profit EMS transport service, as much of the state has, lends itself to a higher standard of care. Private services tend to be about profit, have less available units in similar population densities, use less sophisticated equipment, don't typically carry the vast types of medications as municipal agencies and typically have high employee turnover (less experienced, lower paid and committed employees). A common practice in the private sector often includes running their own schools to get "certified" individuals to work for them, these individuals (usually the better ones) often eventually migrate to government based services, if they make this a career.
Again, both agencies deliver fire and EMS through cross-trained personnel. One difference, Peachtree City has only one person in the city's EMS budget, that of the EMS Lieutenant, whom administers the entire EMS program. Again, as everyone is cross trained to do both functions, no other personnel are concealed in this budgetary item. Fayette County on the other hand, whose personnel are all cross trained as well, performing both functions, have steadily added personnel to that EMS budget. I don't have the current budget in front of me now, but it's something like 1.5 or 1.8 Million, and at present having 36 personnel in it.
Where this budget becomes a double tax on Peachtree City residents, is that the County EMS budget comes directly out of the County General Fund. This general fund budget is payed for by ALL county residents. Through past analysis, over 200K of this should actually go back to Peachtree City, as this is the amount of which has been determined to be Peachtree City's share. This is whats been referred to as the EMS tax inequity. If the city was to get this money back, it would greatly help in funding for additional staffing that PCFD needs.
Ultimately the biggest problem, is a problem all three fire service agencies have faced for several years - Insufficient staffing. Fire engines staffed by Fayette County, Peachtree City and Fayetteville with one or two people. Sure, in this instance, everyone wants their share of the pie, someone mentions tax increase, and we know where that's politically going. All the agencies know how many people it takes to accomplish a task. Task analysis is used throughout the fire service to determine the number of bodies needed to perform a job in a certain time frame. A basic house fire, typically needs 18-21 personnel in the first 8 - 12 minutes. The staffing levels of stations and equipment, even utilizing ambulance assigned personnel (when available), make having this number of personnel in that kind of time frame virtually a pipe dream.
I will mention, in regards to taxes. I've mentioned before that Fayette County's "Fire Tax", a separate tax paid by county residents and those in Tyrone, is only about a half percent lower than Peachtree City's ENTIRE tax millage. Also, I've found it quite interesting that the Millage rate for the County Fire Tax dropped in the last few years, while at the same time their overall staffing increased - funded by the ever increasing EMS budget, paid for by EVERYONE!
I'll also point out, with four fire stations covering 28 square miles in Peachtree City (with 4 Ambulances), the residents are afforded excellent response times and ultimately superior fire and EMS coverage. A standard used throughout the fire service, is to have all or most built upon area's within 1 1/2 miles of a fire station. Even with several area's well beyond this standard in PTC, it's still miles ahead of what Fayette County could provide. Let's see, about 170 miles of EMS coverage (including Fayetteville which utilizes Fayette County EMS)(with 4 Ambulances) and about 150 square miles from nine stations for primary fire response.