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Council approves steep ambulance fee increases and five‑year capital plan for North Shore Fire Department
Summary
After a department cost study found average transport costs near $1,960, the council approved a new fee schedule that raises resident BLS transport to $1,800 and nonresident ALS2 to $2,500; council also adopted a levy exception and a five‑year capital budget to address extended vehicle lead times and rising costs.
The Glendale Common Council voted to adopt a new fee schedule and a multiyear capital plan recommended by the North Shore Fire Department following a departmental cost analysis.
Fire leadership told the council the federally accepted cost analysis showed the average cost to provide ambulance transport was about $1,978.07 in 2023 and $1,962.41 in 2024. Under the proposed schedule, a resident basic life support (BLS) transport would be charged $1,800; an advanced life support (ALS2) nonresident transport could be billed up to $2,500. The chief said current resident BLS charges were about $924.68 and that itemized supplies previously increased average bills to about $1,027.16.
Alderman Gehlhart voiced strong opposition, arguing residents who already pay taxes should not face balance bills; other council members and the chief responded that Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements remain substantially lower, private insurance is variable, and recent legislative proposals could change insurer payments in the future. The council approved the fee resolution on a roll‑call vote, 5–1, with Alderman Galehart/Gellhart recorded as the lone 'No.'
The council also adopted (1) a levy cap exception resolution required for joint fire department funding under state law and (2) a five‑year capital budget to allow for long lead times and rising vehicle costs — staff noted a ladder truck price rising from about $960,000 five years ago to roughly $1.9 million today. Those resolutions passed as separate motions; the levy exception was adopted unanimously and the capital plan passed by recorded vote.
Next steps: the department will implement the new fee schedule and coordinate multijurisdictional approvals required by the North Shore Fire agreement. The city did not specify an implementation date for the new fees during the meeting.
