Wolfeboro committee hears plan to phase in fire-based 911 ambulance service; 2025 ask $816,223

The Wolfeboro Budget Committee on Jan. 14 heard a detailed presentation on a warrant article that would fund a phased transition from the town’s contracted ambulance provider to a fire department–run 911 ambulance service.

Ray Stolarski, chair of the ad hoc ambulance committee, told the committee the group recommended a phased plan to avoid an emergency transition: “We felt it was a prudent approach to develop a program that addresses these issues before it becomes a crisis.” The ad hoc committee included two selectmen, two budget committee members, town staff and other local representatives.

The warrant article presented to the committee would raise $816,223 in 2025 to begin the transition. The 2025 funds would cover hiring a deputy chief of EMS (estimated start April 1, 2025), three additional firefighter/EMTs (estimated start July 1, 2025), related operating costs and purchase of a fully equipped used ambulance. The committee’s slide deck showed estimated additional costs of $1,402,905 for 2026 and $1,105,559 for 2027 under the phased schedule; the town would seek federal grant funding that could reduce capital costs if the grant application is successful (results expected in summer 2025, per the presentation).

The ad hoc committee’s stated rationale cited state and regional trends of private ambulance providers reducing service or closing, rising subsidy demands, and local demographics — the committee noted roughly one-third of Wolfeboro residents are age 65 or older, increasing local EMS demand. The presentation listed operational aims and “critical success factors,” including establishing minimum on-duty staffing levels and training to ensure both EMS and fire response capacity.

The committee outlined a multi-year timeline: hire the deputy chief in 2025, add staffing and bring one ambulance into service in late 2025, add more staffing and a second ambulance in late 2026, and assume full fire-based ambulance service on Jan. 1, 2027. The presentation also noted the town could renegotiate its contract with Stewart’s Ambulance downward as the town brings ambulances into service.

The ad hoc committee encouraged pursuing grant and donation opportunities to offset capital expenditures and noted the town has budgeted placeholder amounts in its capital improvement program for future ambulance replacements and a possible five-year rotation plan.

The Board of Selectmen recommended placing the article on the warrant by a 5–0 vote, according to the presentation slides. The budget committee did not vote on the article during the Jan. 14 public hearing; the committee will consider articles again at its deliberative session and at the town meeting.

Questions from the public and committee members covered timing, capital-replacement planning and whether the town would establish a capital reserve or use a dedicated revolving fund sourced from ambulance-billing revenues for future equipment replacement. The presenters said those policy details would be developed if voters approve the initial funding.

Next steps: the warrant article will appear on the town warrant for the 2025 town meeting; grant outcomes and the committee’s proposed timeline were cited as the key milestones before the planned full transfer of service on Jan. 1, 2027.