Board puts $200K EMS tax hike on fall ballot

November’s ballot for residents of the Village of Fredonia will include a request for a $200,000 levy limit increase to fund joint paramedic services.

The Fredonia Village Board voted to put the referendum on the ballot last week. The increase in the tax levy would fund the paramedic program that services the towns and villages of Fredonia and Belgium.

The village estimates the levy ask could cover the village’s share of program expenses until 2029.

At a village meeting earlier this month, Fire Chief Brian Weyker said the program is needed to address declining volunteer EMT numbers alongside increased ambulance calls.

“We’ve been using volunteers for all these years and it’s been free. But we don’t have the volunteers now,” he said. “You wouldn’t go to a job for free, but we expect a service this important to be done for free or little pay.”

The paramedic program was kick-started by federal American Rescue Plan Act funds three years ago.

The ballot question will read: “Under state law, the increase in the levy of the Village of Fredonia for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2025, is limited to 0.668%, which results in a levy of $1,222,608. Shall the Village of Fredonia be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2025, for the purpose of hiring and retaining fire and emergency medical services personnel and capital purchases for the Village of Fredonia Fire Department’s Joint ALS-Paramedic program, by a total of 16.359%, which results in a levy of $1,422,608, and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $200,000 for each fiscal year going forward.”

The Village of Belgium is asking for about $150,000 in a November referendum for its share of the program, while the towns of Fredonia and Belgium will decide in elector meetings later this fall.