Fire and EMS

 Possible Loss or Interruption of Santa Fe County Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) because Edgewood has failed to pay for these services per an agreement in place since 2005, to the tune of $2.3 million


Sometime during FY24, the Town administration stopped paying Santa Fe County (SFCty) for Fire and Emergency Medical Services, although there had been a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between the two entities for these services that had worked well without interruption for almost twenty years. After failed communication between SFCty and the Town, the County 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. After an uproar from citizens and reporting of the situation 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 Pro Tem 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