Germantown board hears early briefing on Washington County plan for countywide EMS; takes no action

Germantown trustees spent substantial time discussing a Washington County initiative to plan a countywide emergency medical services system under last year’s Act 12, but the board took no action and said more detail is needed before deciding whether to participate.

County staff summarized the resolution as an early planning step, saying the work focuses on governance, financial structure and operational models and that the county would have greater levy flexibility under a countywide EMS system. “One of the models that’s been discussed … is the library system, with the county where the county collects money on a countywide basis, and then that funding is distributed back to the libraries to support their operations,” the presenter said, using the analogy to explain how revenues could be pooled and then distributed to municipalities.

Chief Tully, offering historical context, said the county chiefs began raising concerns about declining volunteer capacity years ago and described prior service reorganizations and bidding pressures that left some departments financially stressed. He noted the $177,000 county grant referenced earlier in the meeting was one immediate effort to help departments that must cover others’ territory.

Trustees and staff stressed that local fire and EMS units would remain in place under most models discussed, and that the county’s ability to levy outside municipal levy limits could result in the village’s fire levy being shifted to the county rather than eliminated. “If a countywide EMS system is established, that portion of their levy is not subject to levy limits,” staff explained, adding that in some models the village’s levy might decrease while the county’s levy rises.

Trustee Pieper and others said they were reluctant to endorse any structural change without concrete financial scenarios. Pieper said she had no questions at the time but others pressed for clarity on whether the county’s mix of sales and property tax revenue could produce net savings to residents over a 10‑year horizon. County staff said some models could yield long‑term savings but that no draft intergovernmental agreement or final financing formula was yet available.

Outcome: The board did not vote on the proposal and agreed to continue monitoring the county process. Trustees asked staff to provide more details and return the matter when draft financial and governance proposals are available.

Next steps: Staff will track county workgroups and provide the village board with specific financial scenarios and copies of any draft intergovernmental agreements for future consideration.