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Committee reviews departmental budget highlights; Fire EMS fund gets $235,000 initial allocation
Summary
During the Oct. 22 meeting the committee received budget highlights: the clerk adjusted special-event revenue estimates, the Fire Department reported a $235,000 award through the state Funding Assistance Program for EMS equipment, and the Police Department flagged several routine increases and equipment replacements for 2026.
Members of the City of Appleton Safety and Licensing Committee reviewed budget highlights for 2026 at the Oct. 22 meeting, including a new special-revenue EMS fund for the Fire Department and adjustments to projected licensing revenue.
Clerk’s office revenue revision Director Tu (City Clerk’s Office) told the committee that the special-events revenue forecast in the 2026 budget had been reduced from an earlier $100,000 estimate to $40,000 after more precise chargeback figures became available. Tu said staff will run the historical data and provide a report to the committee at a future meeting.
Fire Department EMS funding Appleton Fire Chief Hansen described a new special-revenue EMS fund created with state Funding Assistance Program (FAP) monies. Chief Hansen said the department’s initial allocation under the expanded state program was $235,000; he said the city is conservatively estimating about $150,000 from that program for budgeting purposes in future years because only about 60% of eligible agencies applied in the first round.
Hansen said the FAP funds cannot be used for wages or fringe benefits. He described planned uses for the allocation including continued support for cardiac monitor purchases and maintenance, narcotics safe technology and monitoring systems, protocol app licensing that keeps treatment guidelines current on devices, and other EMS-related supplies and equipment. As examples he listed ongoing yearly maintenance and platform costs such as a vector-control platform estimated at $2,200 per year and cardiac monitor maintenance of about $8,000 per year.
Police budget highlights Captain Lewis summarized three principal changes flagged for 2026: a required lead management cost for the firearms range (a multiyear requirement), an increase in the crossing-guard program contract administered through city management services and shared with the school district, and replacement of portable radios in the capital-improvement plan. Lewis also noted a contract-level increase for animal services through the Fox Valley Humane Association; the committee discussion did not record a precise dollar figure for that contract increase.
Committee action and next steps Committee members were invited to submit additional budget questions before Budget Saturday. The committee approved the balance of action items on the Oct. 22 agenda — which included routine license renewals and other approvals — by voice vote, 5-0.
Ending Staff said they will supply more detailed revenue analyses and follow up on specific budget questions in advance of the formal budget review process.
