Very Small Agency Consolidation Scenarios

FINANCIAL MODEL 05

Very Small Agency Consolidation Scenarios

This model addresses the sustainability question facing Colorado’s smallest EMS agencies — those running fewer than 250 transports per year. At that volume, fixed costs per transport become structurally unsustainable without significant subsidy, regardless of how well the agency is managed.

Three consolidation pathways are modeled: full operational merger with an adjacent agency, administrative consolidation retaining separate field operations, and a shared services agreement covering billing, dispatch, and supply. Each pathway produces estimates for projected cost savings, transition costs, revenue impacts, and coverage implications for the service area.

Designed for small agency boards, county commissioners, and regional planners facing sustainability decisions. Does not account for legal, labor, or district governance considerations. For county-level analysis involving multiple agencies, see the County-Level Consolidation Analysis model.

Threshold definitions based on NHTSA EMS data classifications. Model developed by NCRETAC.