Kossuth County reviews EMS budget; advisory council recommends 6% wage increase while supervisors weigh consistency across departments

Kossuth County supervisors met with EMS staff and the county’s advisory council to review the county ambulance budget, staffing plans and a recommendation on wage adjustments.

The advisory council recommended a 6% pay increase for EMS staff to help recruit and retain personnel for the countywide 24/7 emergency service. Board members debated that recommendation against a broader directive to hold most county departments to a 4% across-the-board increase. The discussion focused on funding sources (the EMS service is supported by a voter-approved special levy), service hours, recruitment challenges and the practical limits of county levies.

Why it matters: EMS provides countywide emergency medical coverage. The wage decision affects recruitment, the county levy rate paid by property owners and whether other departments may press for matching increases.

Key points from the workshop - Advisory-council recommendation: Phil (EMS director) and the advisory council presented a budget that assumed the service could support a higher increase for staff. Council members who reviewed the budget for three hours recommended 6% for EMS staff in recognition of 24/7 staffing needs and market pressures: “We have a million dollar fund balance sitting in there today,” an advisory-council speaker said during the discussion about fiscal capacity.

- Board concerns on consistency and precedent: Several supervisors urged consistency with the county’s general approach to wage-setting. One supervisor said the board had earlier planned 4% across most departments and warned that deviating for EMS could prompt other departments to request larger raises. Another supervisor noted that the EMS levy is distinct and that the EMS budget is not paid from the same general funds as other county departments.

- Funding and levy structure: County staff explained the EMS service is funded primarily through a voter-approved special levy (75¢ per $1,000 of valuation was cited as the amount authorized at the time of the levy vote) and call revenues. Phil described current revenues and an estimated fund balance (the advisory board reported “a million dollar fund balance” and noted call revenues that cover a portion of operating costs). Supervisors discussed how contributions to the dispatch center might be reallocated based on call volume and which entities should share dispatch costs.

- Next steps and constraints: No formal board action was taken at the meeting. Supervisors asked staff to provide more detail on the financial projections and to return with any required ordinance language and final numbers. Participants repeatedly emphasized that the advisory council’s recommendation should be given weight because it was the statutorily required group to assess EMS needs, but the board likewise emphasized duty to be consistent across county budget decisions.

What was not decided: The board did not adopt wage changes during the meeting. Supervisors said they would evaluate final numbers and consider whether to approve the advisory council’s recommendation before finalizing the county budget.

Notable direct quote: Advisory-council member — “We have a million dollar fund balance sitting in there today.”