Fire chief outlines levy cuts, paramedic shortage and proposed balance‑billing; committee approves two purchases

Chief Case and his command staff briefed the Financial Affairs Committee on Oct. 14 on the fire department’s 2026 operating and capital requests, staffing pressures and several revenue changes intended to meet a city levy‑reduction target.

Case said the department was given a levy reduction target of $511,000 for 2026. To achieve that, the department combined revenue increases, a reduction of one full‑time firefighter position and adjustments to fees. Major revenue items include new balance‑billing for ambulance transports (estimated $120,000 in revenue) and an increase in inspection and permitting fees (estimated $120,000). The department also cited an increase in state EMS funding (referred to during the meeting as Act 102) that will return roughly $150,000 to the department and is expected to offset about $95,000 of prior levy support.

On balance billing, Case described a policy change for Milwaukee County residents: after insurers and Medicare/Medicaid pay, the department will collect a capped out‑of‑pocket balance of up to $200 per ambulance transport for eligible plans. “Our current ambulance billing policy only collects payments from private insurance and Medicaid for Milwaukee County residents. Any remaining balance is then written off,” Case said; the department plans to change that practice for eligible non‑Medicare/non‑Medicaid accounts to capture up to $200 per occurrence. Case and staff clarified that balance billing will not be applied to Medicaid or Medicare beneficiaries and that collections will not be pursued in a way that affects credit ratings.

Case highlighted a continuing recruitment challenge for paramedics and firefighters: the department has struggled to find applicants with paramedic licenses. To address workforce attrition, he said the department seeks to send larger cohorts to paramedic school (six at once) funded by the increased state EMS grant; the overtime cost for backfilling those positions during training was estimated at $60,000 for 2026. The presentation noted a reduction of one full‑time firefighter position in the 2026 budget, which the department estimates saves roughly $111,000. Case said the department has already reduced one position in 2025; losing another position makes it more likely the department will need to reduce staffing levels on some apparatus or shut an engine on some days. Case said the department had shut Engine 53 or reduced staffing “about 19–20 times” so far this year.

Capital requests include routine replacements (staff vehicles, a fleet maintenance vehicle), turnout gear procurement (the department requested an annual capital allocation for gear replacement), and an update to mobile radios. Case requested authority to waive the competitive‑bid process for a replacement SCBA (self‑contained breathing apparatus) compressor compatible with the department’s current bottles — the department’s quote was roughly $40,000–$50,000.

Two formal committee actions followed the presentation.

- The committee authorized the fire department to preorder replacement fleet vehicles planned in the 2026 capital improvement budget for an amount not to exceed $120,000. The motion, moved by Alder Dolan and seconded by Alder Lewis, passed on a committee voice vote (recorded in the meeting as approved; committee tally recorded as 6 in favor, 0 opposed).

- The committee authorized waiving the competitive‑bidding process for purchase of a replacement SCBA compressor (estimate approximately $50,000). The motion, moved by Alder Tylen and seconded by Alder Morgan, passed by voice vote (committee tally recorded as 6 in favor, 0 opposed).

Committee members asked multiple questions about mutual‑aid reciprocity with Milwaukee and West Allis, operational impacts of reduced staffing, the timing of vehicle purchases in light of the pending consolidation talks with West Allis, and collection practices for the proposed balance‑billing. Chief Case said the reciprocal access to Milwaukee’s larger array of resources (engines, ladder trucks and paramedic units) materially affects the fire department’s operations and budget planning. City administration and the chief said they are coordinating with West Allis and will address duplication and capital overlaps as the consolidation planning proceeds.

Several aldermembers praised the department’s outreach on recruitment and the intern program as ways to stabilize staffing.

(See the actions[] array for formal motion text, mover/second and recorded committee tallies.)