News and Articles

SANTA FE, NM, April 3, 2026 —In accordance with a formal written notice of termination from the Town of Edgewood (Town), Santa Fe County (County) and the Town have agreed to terminate the Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between the parties for fire suppression, fire prevention, rescue, and emergency medical services.  The effective date of the JPA was July 1, 2005; it will terminate on June 30, 2026.   

Under the JPA, the County agreed to – and did – provide 24/7 fire and emergency medical services (and other services) to the Town.  Station 70 located at 1 Municipal Way is the regional (or staffed) station serving the Town and remainder of the Southern Region; over 80% of the fire and EMS calls for service within the Southern Region are within the Town.  Currently, Station 70 is staffed 24/7 with six (6) regional (or paid) staff, consisting of a minimum of two (2) firefighter paramedics staffing two (2) ambulances to provide advanced life support and transportation services.  The remaining four (4) firefighters have various levels of EMT licensures.  In Fiscal Year 2026, the personnel cost for this staffing pattern alone (excluding overtime) is approximately $2.3 million.  Total operational and capital costs are much higher. 

In exchange, the Town agreed to pay the County impact fees it collected on development and the equivalent of the county fire protection excise tax imposed in the unincorporated area of the County – that is, the monetary equivalent of the tax that applied within the geographic area of the Town before the Town was incorporated.   

The Town calculated and remitted the amounts due under the JPA, which equated to several hundred thousand dollars per year.  In Fiscal Year 2023 alone and focusing solely on the payments equivalent to the county fire protection excise tax, the Town calculated its obligation under the JPA as $658,077.19, which it remitted to the County without invoice or other demand.   

The Town’s last payment pursuant to Paragraph 1(F) of the JPA was $52,426.70 in April, 2024.  After the County approached Town management about its growing delinquency, Town management claimed in August, 2025, that the Town only owed the County $10,319.21 for Fiscal Year 2024 and $10,035.12 through May of Fiscal Year 2025. 

When the Town did not substantively respond to the County’s September 24, 2025, demand for mediation, the County was constrained to file a lawsuit to achieve resolution.   

“Without prior notice, the Town stopped making expected payments,” Gregory S. Shaffer, County Manager, said.  “When approached to resolve its delinquent payments, Town management asserted that the amount due in Fiscal Year 2024 was $10,319.21 and $10,035.12 through May of Fiscal Year 2025, a significant decrease from the $658,077.19 the Town had itself calculated and paid in Fiscal Year 2023.  The Town then refused to engage in mediation, as required by the JPA.  A lawsuit was unfortunately necessary to force resolution.”   

A walkaway settlement was reached, pursuant to which: 

The JPA will be terminated -- in accordance with a written notice of termination from the Town -- effective June 30, 2026;  

The County retains all fire and ambulance apparatus, fire stations, and other equipment and supplies; and  

After June 30, 2026, the Town has no expectation of fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical services, fire prevention, or other services the County is providing under the JPA. 

“The Santa Fe County Fire Department (SFCFD) has served the residents of the Town of Edgewood with courage and compassion throughout the Town’s existence and even earlier,” SFCFD Chief Jacob Black said.  “I wish to acknowledge and thank the countless men and women, both paid (or regional staff) and volunteer (or district) members, who have served the Town’s residents with honor.” 

As of June 30, 2026, the Town will no longer be part of the County’s primary fire and EMS service area.  Accordingly, fire and EMS apparatus and personnel will be redeployed from Station 70 to best serve the remainder of the Southern Region and County.   

“While our operations will necessarily change, all existing paid and volunteer firefighters will be retained by the County,” County Manager Shaffer emphasized.  “County firefighters will not lose their jobs as a result of the JPA’s termination.” 

“We will be working with stakeholders, both internal and external, to reconfigure our operations,” Chief Black said.  “Within available resources, our polestars will be to maximize coverage, minimize response times, and maintain ISO ratings for those areas that remain within our primary service area.”    

The termination of the JPA does not impact a separate agreement governing the Santa Fe Regional Emergency Communications Center (RECC).  The RECC will continue to provide dispatch services for the Town Police Department and whatever replacement fire and EMS services the Town provides. 

“To Town residents, it has been – and through June 30, 2026, it will continue to be – the SFCFD’s honor to serve you,” Chief Black concluded. 

####