EMS referendum is a go, but amount unknown
Fredonia trustees are preparing to ask residents to increase the tax levy to pay for its share of paramedic services beginning in 2026 but the question right now is how much money to ask for.
The Village Board last week considered three options, asking residents to increase the tax levy by $200,000, $225,000 or $250,000. Those increases would raise the tax rate by $72.80, $81.90 or $91 per $100,000 of assessed valuation, respectively, Village Administrator Christophe Jenkins said.
Jenkins noted that a $200,000 levy increase is expected to pay for the paramedic service until 2029, $225,000 until 2031 and $250,000 until 2033.
Only asking to increase the levy by $200,000 means “there is a risk that the levy in 2029 might not be enough to fund this program,” he added.
The paramedic program is staffed this year by two full-time paramedics and one part-time paramedic, he said, but by 2026 that will increase to three full-time and three part-time paramedics, providing “true 24/7 coverage.”
While the program is funded through a grant from Ozaukee County through 2025, the village — along with the Town of Fredonia and village and town of Belgium, which are also part of the consolidated paramedic service — will need to come up with the money to continue it after that point, Jenkins said.
A 10-year forecast of expenses for the paramedic program done by Ehlers, a financial consulting firm, shows the village’s share of the cost increasing from $102,946 this year to $156,543 in 2025, then by an estimated 6% annually through 2034, topping at $265,322.
The figures reflect actual budget numbers for 2024 and 2025, he said, with projections used for the ensuing years.
Getting the amount correct is important, Jenkins told trustees.
“When you make a levy ask of taxpayers, you don’t want to go back year after year (for more money),” he said.
To drive the impact home, Jenkins told trustees how much each option would cost them personally.
For example, Village President Dan Gehrke would face a tax increase of $380 if the levy increased $200,000 per $100,000 of valuation, $427 if the levy increased $225,000 and $475 if it went up $250,000
Trustee Tiffany Bartz, whose house is valued at $300,400 — only $400 more than the average home in the village, Jenkins said — would see her taxes rise $219 if the levy increased $200,000, $273 if it increased $225,000 and $300 if it went up to $250,000.
“A good question to ask yourself is what would you be in favor of,” Jenkins said.
Trustee Richard Abegglen — whose taxes would increase $297, $335 or $372 depending on the amount levied — said $225,000 was the “sweet spot” for him, adding it wouldn’t “overburden” residents but still would fund the program.
“This is a very important program to have. We need emergency services,” he said. “I also don’t want to have to come back to them (taxpayers) in two, three, even five years asking for more.”
Gehrke said he was considering a number between $200,000 and $225,000, saying, “We have to be smart about it. I don’t want to get in the spot of asking more than we need.”
The village, he added, has no history with the program, which makes it hard to determine what it really needs.
Trustee Jessica Franck, whose taxes would increase $240, $270 or $300 depending on the ask, said it’s imperative to fund the program adequately.
“I don’t mind paying, in my case, $300 a year for this service knowing if anything did happen to my neighbor or me or my husband, I have this service and I have quality medical care in minutes,” she said. “This is a vital part of our community.”
It’s a community that has a substantial number of older people who require medical services, she noted.
Bartz suggested the village ask for a $200,000 levy increase, saying “we can project all we want but we don’t know (the funds needed). We need to be cautious about how we tax our citizens.”
Seeking the minimum amount, she added, would demonstrate the need for the program, adding the village could “be creative” to try to find more money for the program if it proves necessary.
Trustee Natalie Eippert, whose taxes would go up $320, $360 or $400 depending on the amount approved, said she preferred a smaller number rather than the maximum amount.
However, Trustee Don Dohrwardt, whose taxes would increase $134, $151 or $168 depending on the amount approved, said he doesn’t think the village can afford to seek less than $225,000.
“That would last us six, seven, eight years,” he said. “Your health and safety, is that worth a dollar and 25 cents a day?
“I do think ($250,000) would be too high. I don’t think we have to do that.”
Trustee Kurt Meyle Sr., who was absent, would see his taxes increase $332, $415 or $465, depending on the amount approved.
Village Treasurer Melissa Depies told the board that she is concerned that the cost estimates might be too low.
“I don’t know how he’s going to make it work with three full-time and three part-time people,” she said, adding the staffing may need to be increased over time.
“I think this budget is kind of conservative. Call volume is going to increase, and with that you’re going to spend more money on supplies, on fuel.
“There are a lot of unknowns, and those are making some unknowns we haven’t considered.”
Gehrke asked to have “a better handle on costs” before the board determines how much money to ask from taxpayers, a decision Jenkins said he hopes the board makes on Aug. 1.
The board is expected to approve the referendum question on Aug. 15.
Jenkins told trustees they need to take care in choosing the amount for the referendum.
“Whatever amount you pick, I want you to be confident this will pass,” he said.
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