Edgerton fire chief tells council EMS call volume and billing shortfalls could squeeze city budget

At the City of Edgerton council meeting, the fire chief warned that rising emergency medical service (EMS) demand and a growing shortfall in collected ambulance fees are creating budget pressure that could affect the city’s 2025 levy and capital plans. "We have $1,000,026 $26,000 outstanding in EMS charges," the chief said during a detailed presentation on the Western Division’s workload and finances.

The chief told the council the Western Division is projecting roughly 1,019 EMS calls for 2024 (ambulance-only figures) and a total projected call volume of about 1,241 when fire, crash and inter-facility transfers are included. He said call volumes are up ‘‘about a 15.7% increase year over year,’’ though response times remain near the department’s goal — the City of Edgerton average response was reported at "4 minutes and 52 seconds." The chief said the service has managed to maintain performance despite the higher volume but noted the strain when simultaneous calls occur.

The presentation highlighted a marked decline in collection rates. "We were in the 84 to 85% recovery rate. Today we are at 60.5 percent," the chief said. He and other speakers explained that reductions in what Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers reimburse, and lack of anticipated supplemental subsidies, are major factors. The transcript records discussion that the proposed GEMT (Ground Emergency Medical Transportation) subsidy intended to help recover shortfalls has not been approved by federal authorities and therefore cannot be relied on in the fire district’s 2025 budget.

Council members pressed for clarity about the figures and timeline. Staff and the chief said auditors are conducting field work for fiscal years 2021–2023 and that the CPA will determine what must be written off for 2024; field work was described as likely to finish soon with final audit findings following in the coming months. The chief said auditors will write off uncollectible amounts at year-end, and that a portion of outstanding private-insurer balances will likely become patient liabilities.

Why it matters: council members were repeatedly advised to delay final budget adjustments until the fire district completes its budget process and the auditors produce finalized figures, because the fire district’s staffing and funding requests — including multiple proposed new staff positions — could materially change the city’s levy allocation. Staff reminded the council that the legal schedule requires a public notice by the end of the month and that formal adoption is typically the council’s second November meeting, but recommended awaiting the fire district’s numbers before locking in cuts or capital moves.

What’s next: auditors will complete field work for the 2021–2023 audits; the CPA will determine required write-offs. The council and staff agreed to revisit the budget at the next meeting when updated fire-district budget numbers and audit results are available.