Detroit’s EMS support contracts remain on hold

May 6, 2026

Detroit city officials estimate it would cost approximately $20 million and take several years to fully transition emergency medical services in-house, a timeline that has sparked heated debate over proposed three-year contracts worth $5 million with private ambulance companies. The City Council has twice delayed voting on these contracts, with several members and the firefighters' union pushing for shorter one-year agreements to expedite the shift toward city-operated services. Currently, private contractors handle about 25 percent of Detroit's EMS call volume and provide four full-time ambulances to supplement the city's 26 rigs, helping reduce response times.

Who is affected

Detroit residents requiring emergency medical services
Detroit Fire Department members (498 currently trained for ambulance work; Local 344 represents approximately 1,200 firefighters)
Private ambulance companies: Hart EMS, AmeriPro EMS, and Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service, Inc.
Detroit City Council members (specifically mentioned: Gabriela Santiago-Romero, Scott Benson, Renata Miller, Mary Waters, Angela Whitfield-Calloway)
City administration officials (Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms, Second Deputy Commissioner Derek Hillman, Procurement Director Sandra Stahl, Budget Director Donnie Johnson, Executive Policy Manager Irvin Corley)
Jeff Pegg, vice president of the Detroit Fire Fighter Association
Mayor Mary Sheffield

What action is being taken

The City Council is debating and has twice delayed voting on three-year contracts with supplemental ambulance service providers
The city has adopted an emergency contract (following last week's postponed vote)
Supplemental ambulance contractors are currently handling approximately 25% of Detroit's EMS call volume
The department operates 26 city-owned ambulances 24 hours daily, supplemented by 4 full-time contract rigs and additional peak-shift units
The council's Legislative Policy Division is drafting an ordinance aimed at protecting residents from being overcharged by EMS service providers

Why it matters

This issue affects the quality and timeliness of emergency medical response for Detroit residents, with current response times averaging around seven minutes and 20 seconds for the most urgent calls. The financial implications are significant, as fully transitioning to in-house services would require a $20 million investment and years to implement, while the city responds to 450 medical calls daily with over 300 patient transports. The debate reflects broader concerns about municipal service delivery, appropriate use of taxpayer funds, workforce development within the fire department, and protecting residents from potential overcharging by private providers. Additionally, it highlights ongoing tensions about revenue generation and investment priorities in public safety infrastructure.

What's next

Detroit Fire Department could develop a plan for bringing EMS services fully in-house within 30 to 60 days, but this is contingent on concluding ongoing contract negotiations with the firefighter union (a process that could take six months to a year or longer if it goes to arbitration)
City Council's Legislative Policy Division is drafting an ordinance to protect residents from EMS service provider overcharges
Corporate income tax reserve figures will be finalized in November, which could potentially provide one-time funding (though this would require a budget amendment and support from Mayor Mary Sheffield)
If approved and funded, procuring new EMS vehicles would take 21 months
Budget discussions going forward will address the possibility of shorter contract terms and transition planning

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com