At issue is who pays for Williamson County EMS to respond to calls on the Maury County side of Spring Hill. For years, Williamson County provided the service at no cost to Maury County, but Williamson officials say the arrangement has become unsustainable as call volumes and costs have risen. More than half of Spring Hill's EMS calls originate from the Maury County side, according to Williamson County leaders, who have asked Maury County to contribute financially.

On Monday, the Maury County Budget Committee approved a resolution to continue paying Williamson EMS $750,000 for another six months, a stopgap measure meant to buy time while the county works toward its 2027-2028 budget. The full Maury County Commission is expected to finalize the vote next Monday. Williamson County commissioners have expressed disappointment that a longer-term agreement was not reached.

Spring Hill Mayor Matt Fitterer said the stakes are high for residents on the Maury County side, where the population skews older.

“I know the demographics in Spring Hill skew older when we get to the Maury County side,” Fitterer said. “To knowingly have them be faced with a two- to four-minute longer response time is something I’m fearful of.”

Asked whether he fears for residents if a deal isn't reached, Fitterer did not hesitate. “Yes, I absolutely do,” he said.

Residents share those concerns. Randy Haman, 78, lives near the county line and said proximity to emergency services is critical.

“EMS is very important,” Haman said. “I want to get the EMS as close to me as possible.” A longer wait, he added, “I wouldn't like it.”

Rachel O'Roark, a Spring Hill resident with small children, called fast response times non-negotiable. “I have small children. I want this fast response time,” she said. “This is the bare minimum response time for saving lives.” O'Roark urged both counties to find common ground. “There might be some way to meet in the middle, in good faith, some way to compromise,” she said.

Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt said in a statement that the county had received Williamson County EMS service at no cost for years, but that the arrangement was no longer sustainable. “As with everything else, the cost of providing services has skyrocketed in the last few years and Williamson County was no longer willing to continue subsidizing the Maury County portion of Spring Hill in perpetuity,” Butt said.

Butt said the timing of the request, delivered mid-budget cycle, created challenges. “They were gracious in extending some time, and last night the Maury County Budget Committee passed a resolution to continue subsidizing Williamson EMA in the amount of $750,000 for six months while we work toward our 2027-2028 budget and include that service area,” she said. “In making our decision in the next few months, we will certainly consider the safety of the residents of Spring Hill as we strive daily to do for all of the taxpayers in Maury County.”

The dispute highlights the growing pains of a city split by a county line, where emergency services must be coordinated across jurisdictions. For now, the six-month funding extension averts an immediate crisis, but residents and local leaders say they will be watching closely as the full commission votes and long-term negotiations continue. The outcome will determine not only who pays for EMS, but how quickly help arrives for thousands of Spring Hill households.