The Aurora council voted unanimously on Tuesday to award a three-year contract to EMS Unlimited to provide Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to the city, ending a period in which the municipality’s fire department operated the service.
Contract replaces in-house EMS after budget gap
The decision follows a shift in 2019 when the city took over EMS responsibilities from Hamilton County. For the past seven years the local fire department handled ambulance responses. City officials say financial pressure prompted the move back to a contracted model.
- Start date: Aug. 18
- End date: Aug. 17, 2029
- Initial term: three years with option to renew for up to two additional three-year terms
Council cited a budget shortfall of about $800,000 as a key factor in the decision to negotiate with an external provider. The agreement was authorised by council on June 9, signed on Wednesday by Mayor Marlin Seeman and EMS Unlimited founder and president Ebin Latrimurti.
Costs by year and service area
The contract lays out the city’s annual payments for the three-year term beginning with the 2026–27 fiscal year. The year-by-year cost schedule provided by the city is:
| Term | Year covered | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | 2026–27 | $700,119 |
| Term 2 | 2027–28 | $622,194 |
| Term 3 | 2028–29 | $549,548 |
The agreed service area covers the entire city plus parts of Hamilton County where co-response and mutual aid are required of Aurora EMS.
What this means for residents and the fire department
Council members framed the arrangement as an effort to stabilise service delivery and limit financial exposure to the city. Public statements at the time of negotiation emphasised balancing taxpayer interests with staff security.
“The City is always trying to establish a specific budget framework and ultimately agree to a deal that would benefit the taxpayer and provide security for staff members.”
The contract transfers operational responsibility for ambulance calls from the fire department to EMS Unlimited. The city has not published detailed transition timelines or staffing plans as part of the notice accompanying the signed agreement.
Council also approved the move in light of the longstanding budget shortfall the municipality reported. The switch to a contracted service will shift the line items and liabilities associated with EMS from municipal payroll and operations into the terms of the provider agreement and annual contract payments.
Residents can expect to see EMS Unlimited vehicles and crews responding to ambulance calls within the service area once the contract takes effect on Aug. 18. The contract permits renewal for two further three-year terms, potentially extending the relationship beyond 2029 if both parties agree.
Council minutes from the June 9 approval and the signed agreement provide the substantive basis for the council’s decision. The city has indicated the contract was intended to ensure continuity of emergency medical response while addressing the identified budget gap.
