Here is a recap of events and some of what we were able to piece together. We still do not know the complete story or where exactly the town spent all of the money that had been reserved for the Fire & EMS JPA.
We know the general time line of the last 90 days –
- Santa Fe County Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were almost lost because Edgewood failed to pay for these services per an agreement that had been in place since 2005, to the tune of $2.3 million.
- Due to public outcry the Town negotiated a new agreement
- The new agreement was nearly lost due to what the Commissioners described as “miscommunication” when the Ordinance to enable the Joint Powers agreement was modified
- Finally after nearly 90 days the Town has ratified both the JPA and the enabling ordinance
The most recent series of events now seem to have been resolved with Santa Fe County Fire and EMS Services, but there is history which lead up to the court case and all that has followed.
We know from town records that sometime during FY23-24, the Town administration first reduced, then stopped paying Santa Fe County (SFCo.) for Fire and Emergency Medical Services.
The original Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between the two entities for these services had worked well without interruption for almost twenty years.
At some point in 2024 communication between SFCo. and the Town broke down, the County then filed a lawsuit. Mediation failed and the County served notice that it would no longer provide Fire Service or EMS to the Town of Edgewood after June 30, 2026.
This announcement caused an uproar from citizens and was widely reported by TV stations and the press, Edgewood re-opened negotiations. Town and County representatives reached principles of agreement for a new JPA.
Read the Joint Press Release about the new agreement, dated April 21, 2026:
https://www.edgewood-nm.gov/media/14381
Read article in the indy, dated April 21, 2026: https://route66.news/2026/04/santa-fe-county-edgewood-reach-multi-million-dollar-deal-to-restore-fire-service/
Link to former Mayor John Abrams’ comments to the Town Commission regarding process of executing the new JPA agreement at the May 12, 2026 Town Commission meeting at timestamp 42:12. https://www.youtube.com/live/t-rohwXrSdo
During the September 9, 2025 Edgewood Commission Meeting, Town Manager Nina McCracken stated that she spoke to the Santa Fe County Manager in February 2024 about the Town’s payments for Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). However, the public first became aware that there was a dispute between the Town of Edgewood and Santa Fe County regarding these payments at the September 9, 2025 meeting. View timestamp 32:29 – 39:36 of this Town meeting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoSCT4bWL0o&t=3901s
See the 2005 Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) for Fire Suppression, Fire Prevention, Rescue, Emergency Medical Services, and Emergency Communications between the Town of Edgewood and the County of Santa Fe: https://www.edgewood-nm.gov/media/14351
Three Budget Adjustment Resolutions (BARs) were approved, transferring funds out of the Fire Protection Account.
https://www.edgewood-nm.gov/media/2511 Resolution 2024-18 transferring $120,000 out of Fire
https://www.edgewood-nm.gov/media/7081 Agenda Item IX.E. Unanimous approval of Budget Transfer
https://www.edgewood-nm.gov/media/8981 Resolution 2024-19 transferring $200,000 out of Fire
https://www.edgewood-nm.gov/media/7071 Agenda Item IX.B. Unanimous approval by all Present
https://www.edgewood-nm.gov/media/11501 Resolution 2025-039 transferring $188,100 out of Fire
https://www.edgewood-nm.gov/media/12286 Agenda Item H. Unanimous approval of Budget Transfer