NEW GLARUS - The New Glarus EMS Board has reduced its proposed contract increase for municipalities to 15 percent. The original proposition asked for more than a 40 percent increase from some municipalities.
The municipalities affected by the increase are: Village of New Glarus, Town of New Glarus, Town of Exeter, Village of Monticello, Town of Mt. Pleasant, Town of Perry, Town of Primrose, Town of York and Town of Washington.
New Glarus, Exeter, Perry and York townships signed the contract with New Glarus EMS when the original proposal was presented.
The remaining municipalities have not committed to using New Glarus EMS' services. Washington Township has entered into a 60-day contract with Monroe EMS.
None of the municipalities represented Tuesday expressed an immediate intention to accept the newly proposed 15 percent increase. Village of New Glarus representative Lloyd Lueschow did, however, express concern with the process.
"I'm having difficulties understanding this as a negotiating session," he said. "I'm not convinced these numbers are correct yet and we need to see a business plan."
New Glarus EMS Board members, new to the board in 2008, presented municipality representatives with budget numbers, including a detailed expenditures list. They explained to the representatives that the 2008 budget adds three new positions, including executive director, which has been filled by Deb Craiger. The salaries of those three positions total $87,500.
"These numbers are a concerted effort from all nine municipalities," said New Glarus EMS board community representative Greg Bettin.
He said the 15 percent proposed increase will only work if all nine municipalities commit to it.
Most of the discussion focused on the budget paperwork that the New Glarus EMS Board provided to the municipalities. Mt. Pleasant representative Mike Gengler pointed out a possible discrepancy in the proposed 2008 budget.
He said $150,000 was entered as the anticipated EMS Run Revenue for 2008. The number, Bettin said, is the amount New Glarus EMS expects to actually be paid, not the amount it expects to bill. A separate line item accounts for write-offs in the amount of $31,000. Gengler questioned whether write-offs are being counted twice - once in the revenue and once in the write-off category.
"I think there is a question to be answered about consistency," Bettin said.
Bettin and New Glarus EMS Board member John Wrights said they aren't certain about the calculation, but plan to check with the president of the company used for billing.
Bettin said there hasn't been much of a rate increase to municipalities in the past several years.
Mindy Allen of Green County EMS pointed out that EMS districts are structured with the shortest response times available.
"Washington Township being covered by Monroe EMS is not the ideal situation," she said.
Other municipality representatives expressed the desire for more information about the budget numbers. Because of existing contracts and contract extensions with municipalities, New Glarus EMS representatives agreed that the information would be presented to municipalities in the next month.
The municipalities affected by the increase are: Village of New Glarus, Town of New Glarus, Town of Exeter, Village of Monticello, Town of Mt. Pleasant, Town of Perry, Town of Primrose, Town of York and Town of Washington.
New Glarus, Exeter, Perry and York townships signed the contract with New Glarus EMS when the original proposal was presented.
The remaining municipalities have not committed to using New Glarus EMS' services. Washington Township has entered into a 60-day contract with Monroe EMS.
None of the municipalities represented Tuesday expressed an immediate intention to accept the newly proposed 15 percent increase. Village of New Glarus representative Lloyd Lueschow did, however, express concern with the process.
"I'm having difficulties understanding this as a negotiating session," he said. "I'm not convinced these numbers are correct yet and we need to see a business plan."
New Glarus EMS Board members, new to the board in 2008, presented municipality representatives with budget numbers, including a detailed expenditures list. They explained to the representatives that the 2008 budget adds three new positions, including executive director, which has been filled by Deb Craiger. The salaries of those three positions total $87,500.
"These numbers are a concerted effort from all nine municipalities," said New Glarus EMS board community representative Greg Bettin.
He said the 15 percent proposed increase will only work if all nine municipalities commit to it.
Most of the discussion focused on the budget paperwork that the New Glarus EMS Board provided to the municipalities. Mt. Pleasant representative Mike Gengler pointed out a possible discrepancy in the proposed 2008 budget.
He said $150,000 was entered as the anticipated EMS Run Revenue for 2008. The number, Bettin said, is the amount New Glarus EMS expects to actually be paid, not the amount it expects to bill. A separate line item accounts for write-offs in the amount of $31,000. Gengler questioned whether write-offs are being counted twice - once in the revenue and once in the write-off category.
"I think there is a question to be answered about consistency," Bettin said.
Bettin and New Glarus EMS Board member John Wrights said they aren't certain about the calculation, but plan to check with the president of the company used for billing.
Bettin said there hasn't been much of a rate increase to municipalities in the past several years.
Mindy Allen of Green County EMS pointed out that EMS districts are structured with the shortest response times available.
"Washington Township being covered by Monroe EMS is not the ideal situation," she said.
Other municipality representatives expressed the desire for more information about the budget numbers. Because of existing contracts and contract extensions with municipalities, New Glarus EMS representatives agreed that the information would be presented to municipalities in the next month.