The Board requested that the FY27 draft budget include provision of Enhanced Hazardous Duty Retirement Benefits to full-time EMS employees, similar to those provided to law enforcement and to be extended to full-time firefighters when that point is reached. A VRS-approved resolution will be considered May 28, 2026 to elect these benefits under Code of Virginia § 51.1-138 effective July 1, 2026, with a 1.70% retirement multiplier and the County paying the employer cost. While this is a benefit policy change rather than a direct procurement, it underscores the County’s focus on recruitment and retention in EMS and eventually fire services. Vendors offering public safety staffing solutions, scheduling/telemetry software, wellness and training programs, or consulting on workforce optimization can leverage this signal that EMS staffing and retention are Board-level priorities funded in FY27.

Enhanced retirement classification often precedes further investments in staffing, equipment, and fa...