The Bradley County Commission agreed during a Monday evening work session that it will have to look into the issue of many county firefighters leaving for better-paying jobs elsewhere.
The discussion came after the city's announced plan to possibly create its own separate ambulance service.
In surrounding areas, firefighters can double their salary in the county, commissioners were told.
Vice Chairman Jeff Yarber said, "We can never compete with the city, and I understand that."
In this month alone, five firefighters have left for jobs elsewhere.
Several commissioners stated their concern with the money spent training new firefighters, only to have them leave in a few years.
Vice Chairman Yarber said, "The issue's not going to go away."