[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6332836,"mediaKeyId","2304685-6644020c5f1475bbcf58b5e12251679b","parentId",2304685,"title","County sees lower ambulance-collection rates as billing system data are consolidated","audioSeconds",146,"startMs",1592000,"endMs",1738000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2304685-6644020c5f1475bbcf58b5e12251679b&start=1592&end=1738","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2304685-6644020c5f1475bbcf58b5e12251679b/thumbnail_1592000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6332836/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/County-sees-lower-ambulance-collection-rates-as-billing-system-data-are-consolidated","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332836-3a0c4b093c154ab7ddf2d43a8a0e5546/orig.mp4?Expires=1775663702&Signature=Nl3jsgb1fUQhFmrtVDIvTYOZwBSCOD5Gc0sK~pATjDlQE597-13Q6v3Bii1TUbeAkuoXoKB2-BpyVbD7hJl6hbg-l~MJAMizlEJfNhk36dEM5fpR~k77NtNsNz-oDoSTVeMpl1y1KG5LYzHUbQ9x0I~Iob7WOUGqqa2C80yGb-wIpse0TdubEr1x-vuB-a0j8hlpoShXM3mcGqsizyeArQrCYa0I7F5R69ttC2pszI91-Wy0HBfHqZl7Va8Eap~738fCJW1HmKk1nY9XiVHWOQT0IXm14MdTVHa8YJ2TfSFn~RukTLHA7VTF9HqJP0uMgPa5uqu-DaxM7gys~lftOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sawyer County, WI","date","2025-02-13T18:00:52Z","article","Finance staff reported that Sawyer County’s ambulance billing shows higher billed amounts per call but lower collection percentages, a trend they said will need monitoring as the county migrates billing data to a new vendor report.

The committee heard that collections as a percent of billed amounts were the lowest the reporter has seen — roughly in the low-30 percent range in the most recent snapshot — while average billed per run rose compared with prior years. Staff said EMSMC, the billing/reporting vendor, had migrated three months of data from the prior vendor (LifeQuest), and that the combined EMSMC report should provide a more complete monthly reconciliation going forward.

Officials cautioned that some months look low in collection percentage because insurance and government payers take time to remit payments; the finance presenter said earlier write-offs and legacy billings from the LifeQuest conversion remain visible in the aging reports. Staff asked supervisors whether they wanted deeper monthly reporting for other agencies; the finance director suggested rotating deeper quarterly dives for other large departments while keeping ambulance reporting monthly.

Supervisors asked whether the county was collecting payments from “LCO” when county ambulances transport residents served by that local government; staff said they would look into that question and follow up. No formal actions were taken; the committee received the ambulance reports and asked staff to monitor collection trends and return with updated reconciliations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance 2025 02 13","oneSentenceSummary","Officials reported that ambulance collections are down compared with previous years even as billed amounts per run have risen; the county has migrated billing data into a new EMS management report that staff said should provide clearer monthly reconciliation going forward.","taxTitle","Sawyer County, Wisconsin","taxId",73055,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6332841,"Resident urges clearer legal-fee and audit reporting; county finance report includes department-level legal-fee breakdown",1340,59000,1399000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2304685-6644020c5f1475bbcf58b5e12251679b&start=59&end=1399","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2304685-6644020c5f1475bbcf58b5e12251679b/thumbnail_59000.jpg","/articles/6332841/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/Resident-urges-clearer-legal-fee-and-audit-reporting-county-finance-report-includes-department-level-legal-fee-breakdown","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332841-22504378f2c8ae71378e9f6d945d8074/orig.mp4?Expires=1775663702&Signature=IAC0DiKSoVvRqljMEuBbWzKHuGUbIb7Xmi7bPxsF6APSc7G~Zq83D4FzuKpYH2CBBMsG2fPldOizcwUkoXy9dE-5zn-rRwVRxeIzmFTjupN~Abaxb61-e3yMcG1wiPnuxMG6xVWYbWomWV8QGNtYE4ggTiutg1RQsRjMwMqPU4P5z~q89-Uqf~rZEa8zkLtb7poh4Omb17mk673Djv8NgLkFelD9zmjVOuawERTkJLNe7q7EXhC~xRLkDzy7Ovce4M~xH2QWhJVXJ~N6hPKwVm~Ko-vtkp7AtGSz7bifWdilmEoTXC0u-WbCLfHyhTT8w8ybeQuqvxEz6NvQAY5tpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A resident asked the Sawyer County Finance Committee to publish department-level legal-fee details and to make the full 2023 audit more accessible to county supervisors and committees.

Linda Zilmer, an Edgewater property owner and Village of Birchwood resident, told the committee she appreciated the new regular reporting on legal fees broken down by department and asked that the information be shared with county supervisors and their committees. Zilmer noted several large legal efforts in 2024 — including drafting a tourist rooming house licensing ordinance, multiple zoning ordinance amendments, and outside-counsel attendance at zoning hearings — and said supervisors might want to see how those costs are allocated.

County staff responded that the finance packet includes legal fees broken down by department and by provider. Staff cautioned that attorney time spent redacting open-records materials cannot be recovered; the county can recover staff time for producing records but not attorney redaction time. The finance director also said that the outside auditors had reviewed a smaller 2023 audit document via Zoom but that the committee had not yet received the larger audit report that explains revenues and expenditures in more detail.

Committee members asked whether the county still tracks requests and their legal costs by type (for example, open-records requests versus ordinance drafting); staff indicated they would follow up with the clerk’s office and administrative staff to clarify the ongoing tracking process.","A resident urged the committee to share detailed legal-fee reporting and the full 2023 audit; finance staff showed a new department-level legal-fee breakdown and explained limits on recovering attorney time for open-records redactions.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6332846,"Finance director flags $1.8 million structural shortfall in human services after spike in youth-justice costs",252,896000,1148000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2304685-6644020c5f1475bbcf58b5e12251679b&start=896&end=1148","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2304685-6644020c5f1475bbcf58b5e12251679b/thumbnail_896000.jpg","/articles/6332846/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/Finance-director-flags-18-million-structural-shortfall-in-human-services-after-spike-in-youth-justice-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332846-2fb949fe88f4b67e8aabac4714956c2f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775663702&Signature=as4HApFxSQGEhh7QQdrrR4n8Wx2TesTXjAsQP5aMd80Qw~p5mSNYd6qQjzwc2WuS4P4pIZpCR8gEXDFUtw7F2NA8Q5jPAz0TFVhsOqQ6HTiU4v4ECi-uHnzH9sdfJz-qYlsuxRjR7Q-7~sc7Tc52BneuUThX9CegKrc0nK7FS5a5b1AN4SARh7DZDBwmJWjSgpAVxZS5bDKoBNBQsiy~IbiS-ijshJ-71zh5B-rmLwXf0LYUXHDAqkaLLey51VzKSCnkwmAq9tBSkxu8UxSyd5a1jD0lB2cPpH5Td-4d0dKhhlokpF5Kk8vjzeW-EySoWGbDbcGBkpj0GBhJQkP5~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sawyer County finance officials reported that Human Services (HHS) ran a substantial shortfall in 2024 and that the department faces a structural deficit of about $1.8 million, largely driven by higher-than-budgeted youth-justice placement costs.

Mike, the county finance director, told the committee that HHS was about $1.2 million over budget in youth-justice expenses last year and that overall the department sits on a structural deficit of approximately $1.8 million. He said the county had planned a $600,000 transfer from the general fund and a $750,000 draw from HHS fund balance for 2025, leaving about $1.35 million of the $1.8 million not yet adjusted in budget assumptions.

The committee heard that the county currently has multiple youths placed in out-of-county facilities, including Lincoln Hills and Mendota, and in treatment centers; those placements drive much of the unexpected 2024 costs. Mike said staff will begin meetings to consider options to address the gap, including increasing funding, reducing services, or using general-fund balances.

Supervisors asked for clarification on the trajectory of HHS finances and were told that while the county had occasional surpluses in earlier years, 2024’s spike in youth placements produced the current shortfall. No formal policy changes or specific dollar transfers were approved at the meeting; the discussion centered on next steps for budgeting and program management.","County finance staff told supervisors Human Services faces a roughly $1.8 million structural deficit driven largely by unbudgeted youth justice placements; staff said options include increasing funding, reducing services or drawing on general-fund balances.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6332851,"Sawyer County approves $85,000 to buy temporary bridge for Thornapple Grama Road",425,242000,667000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2304685-6644020c5f1475bbcf58b5e12251679b&start=242&end=667","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2304685-6644020c5f1475bbcf58b5e12251679b/thumbnail_242000.jpg","/articles/6332851/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/Sawyer-County-approves-85000-to-buy-temporary-bridge-for-Thornapple-Grama-Road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332851-6a30238facc48d57edb7b63c0b408c5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775663702&Signature=KupmwaURJxbel0tiDgZzfLh2BeXi6N~FJB1fJtFM1zXbgasoC~l782SuLzK0NMk7Y88j81SwXWqxXLMZX-bS2U-loIQFexS5K6bht003yhy9jKD4acpoRGDbdvlOcIjhhCqhlttYsK1uuJCqyQD48-~Ej9yHHew3yKhHpa9sQyLt0jxjYlRa6qouPES6k~hg89t7ns1OlrU3ekUADlCdoff4kt2PPCm30oBp0oq1VI3UhyXDslXkWNf0F7DgfW0-iHfwGLG87qLnI1gWCPEPukEun1H5ugP4nBPsChau2NkoRnlmWQHfjCtJvK1fw3WOjM~ZJZ0c910J6WhfyXhHyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sawyer County Finance Committee voted to purchase a temporary bridge and allocate $85,000 from 2024 surplus forestry revenue to place at the Thornapple Grama Road crossing of the Thornapple River in the Town of Winter.

County staff presented the request, saying the existing bridge had deteriorated rapidly and was closed because it is unsafe. A county staff member explained the temporary structure under consideration is a used, prebuilt bridge priced at $85,000; transportation and installation are estimated at roughly $55,000, producing a total estimated cost of about $140,000 for the temporary installation.

Committee members were told the Thornapple Grama crossing is an important access point to the county forest, and its closure is affecting timber sales and recreation on the county’s largest forest block. Staff said timber bidders face a roughly 40-mile detour that could reduce bids or make some sales infeasible, which prompted the town’s request for assistance.

The Land and Water Forestry Committee and the county Public Works Committee previously recommended participation; the Finance Committee approved a resolution to allocate $85,000 of 2024 surplus forestry revenue to purchase the temporary bridge and retain county ownership afterward for potential future use or rental.

The record in the meeting does not show a roll-call vote tally; the committee approved the resolution by voice vote. Staff told supervisors the county’s forestry revenues were stronger than budgeted in 2024, with forestry receipts described in the meeting as “over $2,500,000” and a surplus above $500,000 available to cover the proposed purchase.

The county plans to hold the temporary structure after it is removed from the Thornapple Grama site so it can be used for future projects or rented to other government units to offset the cost.","The finance committee approved using $85,000 of 2024 surplus forestry revenue to acquire a temporary bridge that will be installed on Thornapple Grama Road in the Town of Winter while a permanent replacement is planned.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County sees lower ambulance-collection rates as billing system data are consolidated

Resident urges clearer legal-fee and audit reporting; county finance report includes department-level legal-fee breakdown

Finance director flags $1.8 million structural shortfall in human services after spike in youth-justice costs

Sawyer County approves $85,000 to buy temporary bridge for Thornapple Grama Road