Matthew Brown

CRANBERRY TWP — Officials have been working to find a sustainable financial model that would support its EMS services, which could take place as soon as December.

Just this year, roughly 15 to 20 EMS agencies have closed due to insolvency in the state, according to board of supervisors chairman Bruce Hezlep, which is why the board will hold a public hearing at its Dec. 10 meeting regarding a proposed Emergency Services Authority that would set a mandatory fee for EMS in Cranberry.

Supervisors, during their agenda preparation meeting Thursday, authorized the advertisement of the hearing and the township’s intent to form the municipal authority.

For two years, township officials have been working to prevent the statewide crisis from making its way to the area by finding a long term funding model for the township’s EMS service.

The EMS struggles were previous the subject of discussion at the Cranberry Conversation workshop in July. At the session, J.R. Henry, an EMS consultant, said many factors have led to increased expenditures for EMS.

Insufficient funding, among other factors, continues to strain EMS operations across Pennsylvania.

A study in collaboration with other municipalities in Southwest Butler County and a recommendation from an ad hoc advisory committee in early 2026 led to the township’s intent to form an emergency services authority.

Henry, in the July session, had referred to a municipal fee as the “best option” of the solutions considered.

“We are at a crisis in the Commonwealth, but we are not at a crisis here in Cranberry Township because of the planning that we've done over the last two years,” Hezlep said on Thursday.

Cranberry Township EMS has been working on the proposed authority with Robb Consulting, which submitted a three-year financial projection April 6. The current model of the proposed authority includes Cranberry Township, Seven Fields and New Sewickley Township.

Dan Santoro, township manager, said the board’s action on Thursday will initiate the process to establish the authority and appoint board members.

The authority, once formed, will start meeting in January to determine the fee, he added.

Santoro said it is too early at the moment to predict when a fee would take effect, or what the amount would be.