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Lawmakers and Oshkosh officials discuss proposed levy-limit exceptions, EMS training and regional districts
Summary
Officials and legislators discussed three EMS-related bills — funding education, a regional EMS levy-limit exemption and reimbursement for non-transport calls — and debated whether statutory thresholds (an eight-municipality minimum or 232-square-mile requirement) and workforce shortages will affect regional consolidation.
City and county public-safety leaders and state legislators discussed several pending bills on May 19 that would affect emergency medical services, local levy limits and staffing.
City Manager Rebecca Grill said three EMS bills are pending: support for EMS education, a regional EMS levy-limit exemption and reimbursement for care when patients are not transported. Grill also noted an existing levy-limit exception for joint fire departments but said no comparable exception currently applies to police departments.
Oshkosh Fire Chief Tim Hyman described staffing pressures: "I was at a recent graduation at Fox Valley Tech. They had 100% placement before anybody graduated." He said the department could need 24 to 26 hires in 18 months because of retirements, and that overall staffing shortages are a statewide problem.
Chief of Police Dean Smith stressed the county's limited law-enforcement footprint in some areas: "In all of Winnebago County, there's 7 law enforcement agencies in the whole county," and he warned a high municipal threshold to form a regional district could be difficult to meet locally.
Legislators and chiefs discussed statutory criteria reported in committee: one draft would require a minimum number of municipalities (discussed at eight) or a geographic threshold (about 232 square miles) to form a regional EMS/fire district. Officials said both thresholds could present challenges for Winnebago County because agencies already cover broad areas.
Representative Nate Gustafson said versions of the bills have been heard in committee and that stand-alone bills could be introduced if budget action does not address the issues. Senator Christian Alfheim and other legislators encouraged local input as the proposals move through committee hearings.
City officials and chiefs also described policy options to address workforce shortages, including investment in paramedic education and possible pilot programs. One proposed pilot would fund electronic lift devices in assisted-living and residential facilities; Grill said a previous draft included a $300,000 pilot modeled on Arizona's program and a requirement for DHS to design training for fall-recovery personnel.
Officials said billing and reimbursement for non-transport calls (for example, lift assists) is another legislative focus; municipal leaders said some long-term care facilities rely on emergency services for non-emergency staffing gaps.
Local leaders asked legislators to consider flexible thresholds or other mechanisms to enable regional consolidation where appropriate, and to support funding for paramedic education and pilot programs that could reduce call volume by addressing assisted-living needs at the facility level.
