Levy limits provide the maximum amount a town, village, city and county may implement as a property tax levy on parcels within their boundaries.

Yes - State Statue 66.0602(3)(e) allows the county to levy outside of the levy limit for a countywide emergency medical system.

Not specifically defined but it must encompass the entire county, there does not have to be one provider, and a service is provided throughout the county.

A countywide emergency medical system does not require a single provider for the entire county.  For it to be a countywide emergency medical system, the county could collect the funds and then distribute to the municipalities or local service.  The distributed funds can only be used for emergency medical services.

No.  Towns/city/villages will no longer include the cost of EMS in their budget as the county will be taxing the amount.

The way the service runs may remain the same, but discussions may spur new ideas.

The rising costs of Emergency Medical Services created challenges for municipalities.

State Statute requires municipalities to provide ambulance services, and Counties may provide ambulance services but are not required to do so. This change will place the responsibilities and decisions for future ambulance services with the leaders of towns that are required to provide them.

Wisconsin State Statue 60.565 states “the town board shall contract for or operate and maintain ambulance services unless such services are provided by another person.”

Municipalities may form an EMS district or join an existing district prior to December 31, 2028. If Municipalities served by Richland Ambulance service are ready to take over the service or transition to a new provider prior to December 31, 2028 the county could end responsibility sooner.

No decisions regarding Richland EMS employees, equipment or building have been made at this time.  The County is willing to discuss this further.

Municipalities not receiving services through Richland EMS will be provided a check. They then will use those funds for EMS. Municipalities receiving services through Richland EMS will have their obligation covered by the County.  This process will be in place until the County Board of Supervisors rescinds the resolution.

June 16, 2026 County board packet had proposed estimates under item #18.  These amounts are subject to change pending the final 2027 budget(s).

An Emergency Medical Services (EMS) District is a formalized, cooperative governmental or inter-municipal organization created by multiple local towns, villages, or cities to jointly fund, manage, and provide 24/7 pre-hospital ambulance and emergency medical care.

There may be Innovation Funds available if a district is created and the service is transitioned.

Yes – Districts can levy outside of the levy limit up to CPI plus 2%.

Yes

Until the resolution is rescinded by the county board.

The provider of EMS will be determined by the Municipalities and not the County.  If an ambulance district is formed, this decision will be made by the Municipalities choosing to be a member of the newly formed ambulance district.

The location of ambulances and EMT-type staff will be determined between the EMS district and their provider.