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Four months after halting talks, the San Benito County Board of Supervisors revived a regional study aimed at forming a fire protection and life safety services district.
At its Aug. 12 meeting, the supervisors unanimously agreed to explore adding emergency medical services (EMS), including ambulance transport and paramedic care, to the study’s scope.
Supervisor Angela Curro noted that rising EMS costs make it essential to consider ambulance services in the district plan.
“If we’re doing a feasibility study for a special district for fire, I really think it needs to include issues and costs on the ambulance because that’s going to get to a point that we can’t afford,” she said. “There’s no way we’re going to be able to sustain the increases on ambulatory transportation if we do not look at that in this feasibility study.”
Like most counties in California, San Benito County is responsible for providing EMS to its cities. Since 2021, it has contracted with American Medical Response to deliver ambulance services in Hollister, San Juan Bautista and the unincorporated areas.
On Aug. 12, the board also approved a $180,000 increase to the American Medical Response contract, bringing the annual cost to $600,000.
About 60% of calls handled by the Hollister Fire Department—which also serves San Juan Bautista and unincorporated areas of the county—are for emergency medical services, Fire Chief Jonathan Goulding told supervisors.
For that reason, the supervisors argued, EMS should be part of the study, though it was not explicitly stated. “They’re all one bucket, basically,” said Supervisor Kollin Kosmicki.
County Administrative Officer Esperanza Colio Warren added that fire and ambulance services are “interrelated” and should be addressed together.
The feasibility study was conceived during year-long negotiations between Hollister, San Juan Bautista, and the county over rising fire protection costs. Hollister provides fire service for all three, and the county and San Juan pay for coverage.
Approved in February at a cost of up to $99,000—split between the county (45%), Hollister (45%), and San Juan (10%)—the review will assess current services, identify improvements, and estimate costs and benefits under a new district.
The work paused in April when contract talks between the county and Hollister broke down, prompting the county to explore forming its own department with San Juan.
After Hollister and the county reached a new agreement in June, staff recommended resuming the study for a regional fire district.
Supervisors also agreed that EMS costs should be shared by all three jurisdictions, not borne solely by the county. Warren called the current arrangement “unfair,” noting most patients who are served live in Hollister. Supervisor Mindy Sotelo warned the county’s share could reach $1 million within a few years because of rising costs, reduced insurance coverage and more unpaid bills.
“Our residents are going to be left footing the bill if we don’t have this shared across everybody, both cities and the county,” she said.
The board’s vote moves the fire district study forward and adds quarterly operational updates from the Hollister fire chief to the supervisors. It also asks the fire advisory committee, made up of members of all three jurisdictions, to obtain a cost estimate for adding EMS, paramedic and ambulance transport to the contract, and to coordinate with Hollister, San Juan Bautista and county staff on how to split those costs.
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