Public Safety Committee recommends 2026 fire and EMS operating budgets to mayor and council

The Monona Public Safety Committee voted Wednesday to recommend the 2026 operating budgets for the fire department and emergency medical services to the mayor and City Council.

The committee's fire budget proposal shows an overall 2.97% increase from the current year, Chief (name not specified) said during the meeting. The EMS operating proposal shows a 6% increase; the presenter said that figure includes roughly $50,000 in additional revenues and that an allowed 3% staffing increase equated to about $7,400. The presenter also told the committee EMS billing fees with the city's billing contractor rose, producing roughly $10,000 more in collected revenue than originally budgeted.

The EMS budget packet included a $6,800 placeholder line intended to fund a career ladder for department personnel. The presenter described the line as a placeholder that would be allocated across wages and benefits after a meeting with the mayor; no final breakdown was available at the committee meeting.

Committee members had no additional questions during the discussion and moved to recommend both budgets to the mayor and council. The committee approved the recommendation by voice vote; committee members answered “Aye” and the chair declared the motion passed.

The recommendation is advisory; the mayor’s proposed capital budget earlier in the discussion reduced one police capital vehicle request and committee members noted council retains authority to amend the final city budget. The fire and EMS presenters said final allocation of some line items (notably the career-ladder placeholder and wage/benefit splits) will be determined after further meetings with the mayor's office.

The committee discussion did not include specific roll-call vote counts. No ordinance or budget adoption occurred at the meeting; this action was a formal recommendation for consideration by the mayor and City Council.