THOMASVILLE — Thomas County commissioners, citing a $1 million-plus loss, voted 7-1 Tuesday morning to consider methods to save money on Thomas County Emergency Medical Service (EMS) operations.

Possibilities being considered are:

• Privatizing the service

• A private billing service

• Consolidating some services now provided by EMS and Thomas County Fire/Rescue

Commissioner Moses Gross cast the sole nay vote. When asked after the meeting about his vote, Gross said, “I’m not going to talk about it.”

EMS’ 2017 budget is $3.2 million, with a cost to taxpayers of $1.8 million.

Commissioners will pay consultant Skip Starling $5,000 to conduct a study of the current situation and to suggest ways to improve EMS’ financial status. The consultant contract calls for the study to be completed within 45 days.

Commissioner Wiley Grady said it is incumbent on commissioners to address the situation. Grady emphasized a decision is not being made now, only a study.

After the meeting, Commissioner Mark NeSmith, commission emergency services committee chairman, attributed the difference in EMS’ 2017 budget and the cost to taxpayers to salaries, cost of services and uncollected revenues.

EMS has about 40 employees. NeSmith said that if the agency were privatized, personnel would be employed by a private company.

“Your same personnel is doing the service, but government is no longer running it,” the commissioner added.

Lower millage might result from a change.

“The goal is if savings are there, we would lower the millage rate,” NeSmith said.

Mike Stephenson, county manager, said that when commissioners raise property taxes, taxpayers say “do more with less.” He added, “That’s what we’re doing.”

Commission Chairman Ken Hickey said the board is looking at three methods to cut costs, but more ways might surface.

“It’s according to what Skip tells us,” Hickey said.

NeSmith said the study and a look to cutting costs do not reflect on the “great” service provided by EMS.

“We’re looking for some cost efficiencies with the same quality of service,” the commissioner said.