At a special called meeting on Thursday, December 18, 2025, the Greene County Commission responded to an urgent request from the Greene County Emergency Medical Services (GEMS) for funds to pay bills, including payroll, to allow the county’s ambulance services to keep operating.
Commission Chair Garria Spencer said, “We are responding to the Greene County Ambulance Service with an advance of $88,000 to meet back expenses. We expect GEMS to contact others, including, the county municipalities, the Sheriff, the Industrial Board, the volunteer fire departments and others for immediate support. Any money collected from other agencies should be paid to the County Commission, to reimburse for this advance. The advance will allow the ambulance service to continue operating while we seek a more permanent solution to its problems.”
Vickie Colson, was recently chosen as Chair of the GEMS, when other members resigned. She informed the County Commission of the crisis financial problems and asked for assistance in continuing the vital work of the ambulance service in Greene County.
Colson also informed the Commission that Chris Jones, GEMS current Executive Director, had submitted his resignation and that the board would be responsible for directing and supervising operations until a new director is found and can be placed in that position.
Other surrounding rural counties including Sumter, Pickens and Hale have also had problems in maintaining ambulance services in a situation with isolated and aging rural populations, low reimbursement rates from Medicare and Medicaid, and the general uncertainties of the future financial stability of rural health care, under the Trump budget cuts.
In talking with Ms. Colson, it seems that the Greene County EMS is in need of more guaranteed revenue sources to subsidize operations and capital expenses, like maintaining and expanding the ambulance fleet. Beyond the County Commission, the municipalities, gaming, the fire departments and others will need to make annual guaranteed allocations for the ambulance services. Another possibility is to raise the advalorem milage property tax rate to support the ambulance service.
The County Commission stepped up to the plate to assure the continuance of ambulance services in Greene County but all of us, residents of the county, businesses and industries, fire departments and others will need to stand firm in figuring a way forward for this vital and needed service.